PTI blames MQM-London for supporter's death

Police denies political factor in violence at Bhittai Colony

KARACHI: A supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) died Tuesday night when workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) - London attacked a house in Bhittai Colony in Korangi near Ibrahim Hyderi, claimed PTI leaders.

According to Dawa Khan Sabir, the information secretary of the party in Karachi, a group of men attacked the house of PTI worker Danish Abbasi where Ashraf Tanoli, uncle of Abbasi and also a PTI supporter, died after hit by several bullets.

Commenting on the incident, Sabir said the PTI workers in the area had been complaining to the Rangers and police against criminals demanding extortion from residences. The extortionists attacked the house of the PTI worker in an act of revenge against lodging of complaints, he added.



Sabir also mentioned that firing was also done from Abbasi's residence for the purpose of defence. The criminals ran away after some time, he added.

PTI Deputy Secretary-General Imran Ismail clarified while talking to The Express Tribune that the MQM workers, whom the PTI is blaming for the incident, belong to its London faction.

Tanoli was laid to rest on Wednesday after Asr prayers. Ismail along with other PTI leaders, Faisal Vawda and Khurrum Sher Zaman, attended the funeral where they demanded the police to arrest the culprits.



Meanwhile, the police disagree with the PTI version of the episode. According to Ibrahim Hyderi SHO Amjad Yameen, the incident was a result of a dispute between two local groups rather than political parties. Political association of the involved individuals had no bearing on the incident, he maintained.

The SHO added that both the groups fired at each other and two motorcycles were also torched during the violence. Rangers and police have conducted raids at a school and houses nearby and one of the suspects has been detained, the officer summed up.

MQM-London officials were not available for comments.

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