ANP office bearer shot dead in Karachi
Police officials said the incident took place when 50-year-old Dr Ziauddin, son of Muhammad Ismail was returning from a nearby mosque after offering Isha prayers when two unidentified armed men riding a motorcycle resorted to indiscriminate fire before fleeing.
The deceased was shot multiple times and died at the spot. His body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for examination after death, where besides his family members and relatives; a large number of party leaders and workers also reached and chanted slogans against the incident. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
The ANP leader hailed from Swat.
In September last year, the Bomb Disposal Squad defused a bomb planted outside Dr Ziauddin’s residence in Orangi Town.
The bomb was found after police was informed about a suspicious bag lying outside the leader’s residence in Frontier Mor, Orangi Town.
Dr Ziauddin was a former UC Nazim of the area, and was threatened by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which had demanded Rs1 million as extortion money from him.
The TTP also asked him to quit the ANP, and warned of grave consequences if he did not comply.
It is worth mentioning that district West is one of the most volatile districts in Karachi where several political killings have taken place in the past.
Condemnation
ANP leaders while condemning the incident termed it a failure of the government and law enforcement agencies, as several of their leaders have so far been killed in suicide attacks, bomb blasts and targeted killings in the city.
The deceased ANP leaders include Syed Ameer Sardar, Saeed Ahmed Khan, Hanif Advocate and Lal Darwesh.
“If the government had arrested those involved in the previous attacks on our men, Ziauddin would not left us today,” said the party’s spokesperson.
ANP is holding a protest outside the CM House against the killing of their leader tonight.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also extended condolences on the murder of ANP office bearer.
TTP accepts responsibility
Meanwhile, TTP Hakeemullah Mehsud group claimed responsibility of the assassination of Dr Ziauddin.
Commander Gilaman Mehsud told reporters that since the ANP is a secular party, which is aiding the law enforcers in arresting TTP operatives in Karachi, they are attacking its leadership and will continue to do so in future.
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"ANP leaders while condemning the incident termed it a failure of the government and law enforcement agencies, as several of their leaders have so far been killed in suicide attacks, bomb blasts and targeted killings in the city."
There were more killings and acts of terrorism in KPK during ANP's government tenure there. And many more ANP politicians were killed then. Who did the ANP blame for that???
Admittedly, there are fewer incidents of terrorism in the present PTI's government in KPK. Does the ANP give PTI credit on that account??
MQM has been pointing out for last several years that TTP has infiltrated Karachi in large numbers. ANP customarily refuted those claims. Any acknowledgement from ANP's leadership that they were wrong all this time????