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A leading Pakistani human rights activist has been murdered by Islamic extremists hours after praising London for electing its first Muslim mayor.

Khurram Zaki, the editor of political website Let Us Build Pakistan (LUBP), was shot dead in North Karachi while sat in a tea shop with two friends.

Four gunmen on two motorcycles are reported to have opened fire on all three people and then fled the scene.

Just hours before his death, Zaki's last Facebook post congratulated new London Mayor Sadiq Kahn on his election and hailed London as a beacon for the world.

"I am celebrating the greatness of Western Secular Democracy. In this day and age of terrorism and Islamophobia, London has risen above discrimination and bigotry and emerged as great centre of human civilisation setting a great example for the world."

Despite being treated at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and later being moved to a private medical facility, Zaki died shortly afterwards. The two friends are still being treated in hospital.

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Police are said to have collected 12 gun casings from the scene and are investigating.

In a statement on his death, LUBP's new editor hailed Zaki's "principled and courageous stance" on sectarian attacks and described him as "a bigger journalist and rights activist with more valuable credentials and contributions than those in mainstream media or NGOs.

"His death is the grim reminder that whoever raises voice against Taliban, ASWJ/LeJ and Jamaat-e-Islami Deobandi mafia in Pakistan will not be spared.

"And when they have to murder, they never fail."

LUBP has already initiated the Shaheed Khurram Zaki Trust to help care for the families of activists killed by terrorists regardless, of their sect or faith background.