KARACHI: Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead in Karachi on Tuesday, police officials said.
SSP South Pir Mohammad Shah said the shooting incident took place outside the residence of the former member of the National Assembly in Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood of Defense Housing Authority (DHA).
Unknown assailants shot Abidi as soon as he disembarked from his vehicle outside his residence, the official said.
Abidi was immediately shifted to PNS Shifa Hospital in critical condition. He, however, succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.
Speaking exclusively to Geo News, Abidi’s father Ikhlaq Abidi said his son sustained two bullets to his neck and one in torso. He said the assailants were riding a motorbike.
Doctors conducted post-mortem on the deceased’s body. According to the initial report, Abidi sustained four bullets in neck, arm and chest.
Heavy contingents of police and Rangers reached the residence of the former MNA and placed security cordons there. The law enforcers were collecting circumstantial evidence from the scene.
Abidi’s death comes days after two Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) workers were gunned down in the city’s Usmania Society locality.
Earlier this month, six people were wounded when a low-intensity blast hit an MQM-Pakistan Milad gathering in Gulistan-e-Johar.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah lamented deterioration in the city’s law and order situation. He directed the inspector general (IG) Sindh to constitute a special team and arrest the perpetrators.
Speaking to media outside Jinnah Hospital, former MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar said Abidi was not only an asset for Karachi, but for the country as well. He said the former lawmaker was informed of threat to his life four days ago, adding that Abidi’s assassination was a display of cowardice and savagery.
Pointing to a wave of unrest in the city, Sattar questioned why were not security measures taken after the recent killing of PSP activists in the city. He criticised the federal and provincial governments for not taking preemptive measures for the security of the people after the recent incidents.
The former MQM-P leader maintained Abidi’s murder was a targetted killing.
Speaking to Geo News, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal termed the assassination a huge tragedy and a conspiracy to once again deteriorate Karachi law and order situation.
He termed it a major setback to the difficultly-achieved peace in the city.
Commenting on the assassination of the former party affiliate, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhter said it was a tragic incident. He said there had been security threats to many individuals.
“Threatening calls are received from different numbers,” the mayor said, calling for a review of the decision to withdraw security from individuals who had threats.
Abidi was elected as an MNA on Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s ticket in 2013 general elections. He, however, joined the Pakistan faction of the party after it split into two following anti-Pakistan tirade by the party supremo during a telephonic address with party workers in Karachi in August 2016.
However, the lawmaker resigned from his National Assembly membership in November 2017 citing “political and personal reasons”.
The resignation came days after Abidi announced quitting the MQM-P after it entered into an electoral alliance with the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).
