PPP UC chairman gunned down in office

Party leaders call the incident 'target killing'; FIR registered under murder and anti-terrorism sections

KARACHI:

Pakistan People's Party's Union Council Chairman, Amir Bhashani alias Amir Bhutto, was gunned down in a target killing incident in Orangi Town's Gulshan-e-Zia area on Thursday night. Unknown assailants on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire inside his office, leaving him fatally wounded. Law enforcement agencies, including police and Rangers, arrived at the scene and collected forensic evidence, including multiple bullet casings.

According to police, an FIR has been registered at Pakistan Bazaar police station under sections of murder and anti-terrorism. The complaint was filed by the victim's father, Mohammad Kalam, who stated that Amir Bhutto was sitting in his office with a coordinator when three armed men arrived on a motorcycle. Two of the attackers entered the office and opened fire while the third waited outside. Amir sustained multiple bullet injuries and was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The funeral prayers were held after Friday prayers at a local mosque in Gulshan-e-Zia, attended by family members, residents, and a large number of PPP supporters. Senior leaders including Sindh Local Government Minister and PPP Karachi President Saeed Ghani, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Special Assistant to CM Waqar Mehdi, and other party officials were present.

Later, the burial took place at Gulshan-e-Zia graveyard. Speaking to the media, Saeed Ghani expressed deep concern over the incident, calling Orangi Town a historically challenging area for the party. "Our workers are still being targeted by terrorists," he said. "This is a great loss for the party. I am confident that the killers will soon be arrested and the motive behind the killing will be uncovered."

Amir Bhutto, a father of three, had his office adjacent to his home. PPP leadership has categorically termed the incident as a case of targeted killing and demanded swift action from law enforcement.