Assassination attempt: PTI leaders escape targeted attack in Karachi

Gunmen open fire on vehicle of Faisal Vawda and Imran Ismail

KARACHI: Two key leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) escaped an apparent assassination attempt after armed men opened fire at their car in Karachi on Friday.

Frere police said Faisal Vawda and Imran Ismail were attacked on Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman Road in Delhi Colony as they were returning from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office.

“Both the leaders remained unhurt in the attack as they were travelling in a bulletproof SUV,” SP Samiullah Soomro told The Express Tribune.

Police said the attackers fled after the security squad of the PTI leaders fired back at them. Three empties of 9mm and four shells of submachine guns were found at the crime scene.



“The SMG empties belonged to the security guards while the attackers used 9mm pistols,” SP Soomro said. The attackers fired from the driving side of the vehicle.

Talking to the media later, Faisal said the attack was a cowardly attempt to stop the PTI from raising its voice against the corrupt and tyrants of the society. “We will keep going ahead with our mission to provide relief to the

poor and accountability of the corrupt,” he said.

Ismail said the PTI leaders had no idea who was behind the attack as there were no threats against them. He said they were attacked by four attackers on two motorcycles.

He, however, said a third party might have tried to cash on the rifts between PTI and other parties. “I demand security from the government as I am a political figure who cannot stay away from public places,” he said.

Sindh police chief Allah Dino Khowaja has ordered an immediate inquiry and directed the police to arrest the suspects, a statement said.

Police are trying to obtain CCTV footage from the cameras installed on the route.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2016.