Targeted attack? PML-N leader shot dead in Lyari

Victim's brother and senior party worker was to lead a peace rally on Sunday

KARACHI: Gunmen shot dead a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) outside his office on Saturday night, in the jurisdiction of the Baghdadi police station in Lyari.

Mir Ishtiaq Baloch had contested the local government elections as the chairman from Union Committee (UC)-8 against Haji Abdul Majeed Baloch and lost from only 40 votes. He was going to file a petition for recounting the votes, his relatives and party workers informed.



Thirty-two-year-old Ishtiaq got married nine months ago and ran his own business. He was laid to rest in Mewa Shah Graveyard.

Following the news of his killing, the Lyari neighbourhood was shut down.

Mir Ashfaq Baloch, the deceased's older brother and a senior worker of the PML-N, had planned to lead a 'Lyari Aman Rally' [Lyari Peace Rally] on Sunday afternoon from Shah Baig Lane to Football House. He claimed that his brother's murder was meant to disrupt that march.

"Lyari gangsters are behind the murder of my younger brother," he alleged. "They don't want peace in Lyari," he added.

He said his brother was sitting outside his office at Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road when gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire, killing him on the spot and escaped.

He said the incident took place at around 10pm. "I was at a marriage ceremony," he explained, saying the gangsters deliberately targeted his brother.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ashfaq said he had been planning the rally for the last two weeks, adding that his efforts of gathering people for peace were being appreciated by residents. "I just wanted to organise a peace rally so people outside Lyari could get the message that peace has been restored here now," he explained. But, he added, they [gangsters] don't want peace in Lyari.

Ashfaq, who has been affiliated with the PML-N for the last 20 years, is one of the well-known party workers of the city. Residents said being a vocal person, Ashfaq and his family was not disliked by some opponents. Rumours also surfaced after the targeted killing that the motive behind the murder could be political.

Ashfaq said the major reason behind the killing of his brother was to create fear among residents and to discourage political workers. "The gangsters are afraid of political activities so they target people who support political activities," he said.

According to SSP City Fida Hussain Janwari, gangsters had possibly targeted Ishtiaq. "We have to investigate the reasons behind the targeted killing," he said.

He added that the family has nominated a gangster, Gulab aka Gulabo, in the FIR registered at the Baghdadi police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2016.