Police on the hunt for PPP leader who shot PTI MPA

The dispute arose over the supply of water in the area

KARACHI: Police have yet to arrest the prime suspect in the armed attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Ramzan Ghanchi, who sustained bullet wounds during a dispute over a water connection in the Timber Market area on Thursday night.

Police have already arrested two accused, Salman Soomro and his son, Shahnawaz Soomro, while another of Salman’s sons is on the run.

According to police officials, they have conducted raids at the house and other places frequented by the main accused, Ali Nawaz Soomro, who is also the vice-chairman of UC-16 and is affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The dispute

In his statement to the police, Ghanchi said that he had an argument with Soomro and his sons late on Thursday night over the area’s water supply. During the argument, they fired at him and the bullet hit his leg. Ghanchi was immediately shifted to a hospital, where doctors declared him out of danger.

PTI Karachi chapter President Khurrum Sher Zaman and other party workers rushed to the hospital. On Zaman’s directives, Ghanchi has been shifted to the orthopaedic hospital in Nazimabad.

After the incident, PTI workers gathered outside the police station on Napier Road demanding action against the accused.

City SSP Muqaddas Haider said that technical assistance was being sought for Ali Soomro’s arrest and assured that he would be arrested soon. He said that the police had seized three bullet shells of a 9mm pistol from the site, which have been sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis.

‘Sindh needs water’

“A PPP leader injured Ghanchi after a fight last night. What Ghanchi wants is water for the people of his constituency in Karachi,” said PTI leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi. “The water board should have taken a decision about the distribution of water in the city.”