Former union councillor shot dead

Driver of the former councillor died while another relative accompanying them escaped the attack.

KARACHI: A former union councillor belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party was shot dead along with her driver in a targeted attack in the outskirts of the city on Tuesday.

The deceased councillor was identified as 45-year-old Allah Bachai, wife of Ishaq, and her relative-cum-driver as Pir Muhammad, 50, son of Mundo. Bachai and her driver were accompanied by another relative, who sought anonymity and luckily escaped the attack as the assailants probably did not see him.

The incident took place at Malir Bridge near Saleh Muhammad Goth within the limits of the Memon Goth police station. Both Bachai and her driver were shot multiple times and died on the spot. The bodies were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for autopsies and later handed over to the families.

Bachai was a resident of Chaman Colony in Khokhrapar, Malir, and a former union councillor of the area. However, the family and the police have ruled out the possibility of political motive behind the incident.

According to the family, they had a personal enmity with their relatives over property disputes and their relatives were allegedly behind the incident. "We had shifted from Khokhrapar and are currently living in Shah Latif in hiding," said the young relative, who escaped the attack. He said the culprits riding motorcycles targeted them when they were on their way to Shah Latif town.

Police officials also believe the incident occurred over personal enmity. Memon Goth DSP Pervez Shah said the police were waiting for the family to register the case as the family said they will nominate their relatives in the FIR after the funeral and burial. He added that the police have initiated investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2015.