PTI leader shot dead in Azizabad
Unidentified armed men opened fire on Asif while he was leaving the mosque after offering Asr prayers
Representational Image.PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI:
Former president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Karachi District Central chapter, Asif alias Chakli, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Azizabad on Saturday.
Speaking to media personnel, Central Zone SSP Arif Rao said that two unidentified armed men, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on Asif, 42, while he was leaving the mosque after offering Asr prayers. Following the attack, the assailants fled the scene. Later, on being informed, a large contingent of police and rescue workers reached the site. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The funeral prayers were offered on Saturday night at Madni Masjid at 2am. The funeral was attended by a large number of party workers and PTI leaders, including Zaman, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Umar Omair and Khan. Asif was buried in Yaseenabad graveyard.
Earlier, a PTI spokesperson had said that Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi would also attend the funeral. However, neither of the two was able to make it to the funeral.
According to the police, two bullet shells of a 9mm pistol have been found at the crime scene and further investigation of the incident is under way. "Every aspect of the murder case will be investigated, including political and personal rivalry," said Rao. "We expect to make a breakthrough in the case soon."
SSP Rao also revealed that Asif used to live in Kharadar before he shifted to Azizabad and police plan to investigate the deceased's past too. Additionally, the bullet shells have also been dispatched for forensic analysis, he said.
A case against Asif's killing has been registered under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on behalf of his brother.
Later in the evening, scores of PTI workers staged a sit-in on Sharah-e-Pakistan in Karimabad, protesting Asif's killing. PTI MNAs and MPAs, including Aslam Khan, Imran Shah, Arsalan Taj, Raja Azhar, Khurram Sher Zaman and others also joined the protest. As hours passed, Zaman appealed to the party workers to end the protest but his request was paid little heed. However, the sit-in was called off after negotiations between PTI members and police officials.
As a result of the sit-in, traffic flow from Karimabad to Sohrab Goth was also affected.
PTI has demanded that the Sindh government take measures for arresting Asif's attackers within a week.
Speaking to the media outside the mosque after the funeral prayers, Zaman demanded that Sindh CM direct the police to take immediate steps for putting Asif's killers behind bars. He said that street crimes and robberies were already on the rise in the city and now target killing had also started.
He also appealed the Rangers DG to take steps to arrest the attackers. Zaman said that target killings in the city had ended following actions by Rangers as criminal outfits feared the paramilitary force. However, criminal activities have begun again since Rangers stopped conducting raids in Karachi, he added. Zaman said that Rangers should resume action against criminal elements in the city.
The PTI leader also demanded that provincial government share details pertaining to developments made in Asif's murder case during the Sindh Assembly session today (Monday). Moreover, he also asked the CM to share details about the progress made by the police in the case on a daily basis.
According to Zaman, Asif had been receiving death threats lately and was murdered for speaking about garbage removal in Azizabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2019.
Former president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Karachi District Central chapter, Asif alias Chakli, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Azizabad on Saturday.
Speaking to media personnel, Central Zone SSP Arif Rao said that two unidentified armed men, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on Asif, 42, while he was leaving the mosque after offering Asr prayers. Following the attack, the assailants fled the scene. Later, on being informed, a large contingent of police and rescue workers reached the site. The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The funeral prayers were offered on Saturday night at Madni Masjid at 2am. The funeral was attended by a large number of party workers and PTI leaders, including Zaman, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Umar Omair and Khan. Asif was buried in Yaseenabad graveyard.
Earlier, a PTI spokesperson had said that Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi would also attend the funeral. However, neither of the two was able to make it to the funeral.
According to the police, two bullet shells of a 9mm pistol have been found at the crime scene and further investigation of the incident is under way. "Every aspect of the murder case will be investigated, including political and personal rivalry," said Rao. "We expect to make a breakthrough in the case soon."
SSP Rao also revealed that Asif used to live in Kharadar before he shifted to Azizabad and police plan to investigate the deceased's past too. Additionally, the bullet shells have also been dispatched for forensic analysis, he said.
A case against Asif's killing has been registered under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on behalf of his brother.
Later in the evening, scores of PTI workers staged a sit-in on Sharah-e-Pakistan in Karimabad, protesting Asif's killing. PTI MNAs and MPAs, including Aslam Khan, Imran Shah, Arsalan Taj, Raja Azhar, Khurram Sher Zaman and others also joined the protest. As hours passed, Zaman appealed to the party workers to end the protest but his request was paid little heed. However, the sit-in was called off after negotiations between PTI members and police officials.
As a result of the sit-in, traffic flow from Karimabad to Sohrab Goth was also affected.
PTI has demanded that the Sindh government take measures for arresting Asif's attackers within a week.
Speaking to the media outside the mosque after the funeral prayers, Zaman demanded that Sindh CM direct the police to take immediate steps for putting Asif's killers behind bars. He said that street crimes and robberies were already on the rise in the city and now target killing had also started.
He also appealed the Rangers DG to take steps to arrest the attackers. Zaman said that target killings in the city had ended following actions by Rangers as criminal outfits feared the paramilitary force. However, criminal activities have begun again since Rangers stopped conducting raids in Karachi, he added. Zaman said that Rangers should resume action against criminal elements in the city.
The PTI leader also demanded that provincial government share details pertaining to developments made in Asif's murder case during the Sindh Assembly session today (Monday). Moreover, he also asked the CM to share details about the progress made by the police in the case on a daily basis.
According to Zaman, Asif had been receiving death threats lately and was murdered for speaking about garbage removal in Azizabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2019.