Police arrest suspect in PTI leader Zahra Shahid murder probe

E-Paper | October 13, 2026

Police arrest suspect in PTI leader Zahra Shahid murder probe

Akber Ali Published September 25, 2014

KARACHI: Police in Karachi have arrested at least one man suspected of involvement in the murder of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Zahra Shahid Hussain.

"We have arrested one suspect [in connection to Zahra Shahid's murder], while there are others who will soon be arrested," Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo told reporters at a press conference Thursday evening.

“This was not a robbery; this was an incident of targeted killing,” Thebo told reporters.

“We are carrying out further investigation and interrogation, and will share facts as they are further revealed. We are not able to share further information at this stage,” he said.

“The suspect originally belongs to Hyderabad but lives in Karachi” in the DHA area, he said.

Police further claimed having uncovered clues leading to the possible arrest of further suspects.

Thebo declined to give any further information into the arrest or investigation.

Police sources had earlier told Dawn.com that up to three men have been arrested in connection to the PTI leaders murder.

The sources claimed the arrested men, said to be affiliated to a political party, have admitted to the murder of the PTI leader during interrogation.

Also read: Murder of PTI leader was targeted killing: police

Police had earlier already declared Ms Husain’s murder to be an act of targeted killing, ruling out the possibility that the PTI leader was killed while resisting a mugging attempt at her Defence house.

The PTI leader was gunned down in Defence Phase-IV on May 19, 2013.

Before choosing her political career, Ms Husain was associated with Karachi University’s international department as its faculty member. She taught there until the 1980s.

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Rabbani

Sep 25, 2014 04:11pm

We all know who was behind this murder

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Jalbani Baloch

Sep 25, 2014 04:23pm

Karachi police does not seem to have courage to reveal the identity of suspected killers. What is the importance of such news, where the murderers get cover even by the media, probably due to the fear of reprisal or political backlash that may put the current government in limbo. Let the public know identity, motivation and affiliation of the killers.

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Zak

Sep 25, 2014 04:46pm

Who are they associated with.? Name and shame.

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Goga Nalaik

Sep 25, 2014 04:54pm

@Rabbani Who, please name

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Qamar Tarar

Sep 25, 2014 04:58pm

we know who are the murders. Why media is not telling that?

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Raj

Sep 25, 2014 05:15pm

@Rabbani Then can you tell us, where is the evidence and why has it take so long, why have you been hiding the facts?

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Raj

Sep 25, 2014 05:19pm

It may be a political ploy by the Sindh Provincial government as they saw nexus developing between MQM, PAT and PTI and also to answer for the demands of a separate Province.

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Ali

Sep 25, 2014 05:20pm

Does the 'political party' by any chance happen to be MQM?

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Kamran

Sep 25, 2014 05:21pm

Yes everyone is convinced that 'a Karachi-based party' is behind this assassination. Same was said about OPP's Perween Rehman execution. Turns out her killer was affiliated with a 'banned outfit' after being expelled from another political party. Not taking any sides, but please let us wait for the authorities to release more details before everyone uses this as basis for more xenophobia.

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Kamil

Sep 25, 2014 05:27pm

Another mukh Mukha is in process . PPP will cash this appoturnity and black Mail other political party . I am sure nothing more than this news item will surface.

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zaman

Sep 25, 2014 05:30pm

Obviously MQM is the associated political party, I don`t understand why media hide MQMs name in news, Police must have to declare the parties involved openly. Imran Khan also need to discuss this issue in his karachi speech.

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Rashid Ishaq

Sep 25, 2014 05:32pm

in addition to this news, last night rangers raid and detained 30 activists of mqm, so who else would be behind her murder?still no "oye altaf" but only to "oye nawaz"

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shehryar

Sep 25, 2014 05:48pm

Every one knows who is behind the murder but now no one talk b/c the great IK has joined forces with them!

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just_someone

Sep 25, 2014 05:49pm

@zaman Its obvious why no one names them... Do you know nothing about Karachi?

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Tabish

Sep 25, 2014 06:01pm

Its not always MQM. Banned outfits are also carrying out attacks in particular target killing. Had it been MQM, IK would have uttered at least a single word during his address at Mazar.e.Qaid. The height of falseness of this news is that one newspaper also reported that police also found the weapon used for this particular murder. I mean give me a break are the murderers so fool that they were still carrying the proof with themselves so as to assist police investigation whenever they get caught? These are only small things to pressurize MQM over their justifiable demands of administrative units all over the country.

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Zain

Sep 25, 2014 06:29pm

Imran comes to Karachi and MQM extends olive branch to PTI and makes noises about a possible alliance. PPP and PML-N immediately announce this measure to warn MQM. MQM has so many skeletons in its closest that it can no longer afford to play an independent political role and afford to antagonize the status quo forces. Time for Urdu speaking people to ponder this and think of an alternative to MQM to represent them as MQM is totally compromised. They cant even get the local bodies system and local police for Karachi as every time they make a noise about separate province or devolution to local governments, skeletons come out of the closest and MQM has to beat a hasty retreat.

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Rizwan Kamal

Sep 25, 2014 06:40pm

Demand more provinces, demand local government...this is end result...political arrest, pressure tactics and misuse of forces by PPP. Whole administrative setup is politicized by PPP. The arrested will be torture to give confession and we will see the video in coming day circling in the web like youtube, dailymotion..."yes..I did this and order came from ...." This is story of my city, my country. I dont expect any justice or rule of law in my life and I pray culprit who so ever will face real justice by Almighty ALLAH.

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ishrat salim

Sep 25, 2014 06:53pm

Why all forgets that there is another small political ethnic party called MQM ( Afaq Group ), who has the backing of the govt. The govt may be using them to discredit MQM ( Altaf group ). Can this not happen ?

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nak

Sep 25, 2014 06:57pm

Why this arrest all of a sudden why going out of the way and announcing suspect belongs to a political party? why all of a sudden there are attacks on MQM offices. Could this have anything to do with MQM taking a stand on doing the right thing and talking about dividing Sindh into smaller administrative bodies? PPP and Sindh nationalist leaders are the biggest evil in Sindh.

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imran ali

Sep 25, 2014 07:04pm

Altaf Bhai demanded separate suddenly this police officer belong to rural arrested some people in connection of murder of Zahra Shahid...we know how police system work in Pakistan

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Frank

Sep 25, 2014 07:07pm

PPP taking revenge against announcing of province. I just want the killer of Zahra Shahid to be caught, otherwise all our mothers will be legitimitate targets.

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Taimoor Khan

Sep 25, 2014 07:28pm

Timing is very interesting. At the time when apparently PTI and MQM are coming on some sort of understanding.

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Muhammad Mukhtar

Sep 25, 2014 07:38pm

@Tabish I do not understand why people are not sensing the sensitivity of the matter, if a person like IK did not say anything regarding her slain party member then there must be some solid reason. Demand of the hour is if " you cannot beat them, for now at least, do not give anti-mqm statements". Who would not know the consequence if IK had said anything, more dead bodies at the jalsa. IK knew the end result which kept him saying anything. Now, look at the raid at MQM's office and its extreme reaction in response. Doesn't it tell you anything? I mean a party whose entire top leadership murdered except a few, only response was crocodile tears and few statements. Ordinary workers arrested , response is sit-ins, boycott and usual trade-mark drama of MQM. I am Mohajir myself but today's MQM does not represent me. IK is very right when he says "karachi mai khof ka raaj hai".

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Ali

Sep 25, 2014 07:45pm

@Jalbani Baloch they unearthed the killers only to create rift between MQM and PTI which is now going betterment after PTI jalsa supported by MQM

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Azeem

Sep 25, 2014 09:07pm

Who is the beneficiaries? PPP? If MQM support PTI they make Leader of Opposition..................but unfortunately we always think about only one side. This news is just fake for arrest suspect of PTI worker? Can media follow till end this news? NO

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Common man

Sep 25, 2014 09:40pm

@Jalbani Baloch - could Ik has courage to disclose name of killer

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Common man

Sep 25, 2014 09:41pm

@Zak -they are Ik partners in London plan

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Common man

Sep 25, 2014 09:48pm

@Zain - For your information altar was the master mind for London plan and played as mediator between modi and tuq/ Ik Their plan A fails now trying plan B

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Syed

Sep 25, 2014 09:55pm

wow. pakistani police becoming efficient. impressive.

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Umar

Sep 25, 2014 10:02pm

@Raj you have a valid point there, and may be it is because of that

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chodhary

Sep 25, 2014 10:37pm

useless piece of news if you are not brave and free enough to reveal publicly the name of that political party to which the killer belongs.

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Aik Pakistani

Sep 25, 2014 10:49pm

@Qamar Tarar Dont Worry. Imran will reveal the murderers in his Dharna. ANd then sue the culprit in the UK! And then criticize him until he agrees to make IK PM. then all will be well

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Zaneera

Sep 25, 2014 11:18pm

@Zain Why "political party" to represent them? #EthnicProvocation why? Why can't they turn to national party aka PTI

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Border Security

Sep 26, 2014 02:01am

@Jalbani Baloch Like you, everyone wants to know who the killers were but it is too early for the police to disclose. It can ruin further progress because first line of killers can be wiped out by the second tier to eliminate evidence. I am sure complete details will be made public soon. However, the provincial government can take advantage of this to dictate terms to the political party responsible for the murder. It can be the same situation which has developed in the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq. The killers are in the custody of intelligence agencies and have been used by the PPP government as a bargaining chip. People would love to point fingers at a particular party but we should let police complete its work and come out with truth.

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m ahmed

Sep 26, 2014 03:05am

@Ali yes, answer is correct

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m ahmed

Sep 26, 2014 03:11am

@Rizwan Kamal How you talk as if mqm is paraty of darvesh? you are forgetting Ranges work under Governor of Sindh who is mqm leader ...

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Nutralist

Sep 26, 2014 05:07am

"The sources claimed the arrested men, said to be affiliated to a political party, have admitted to the murder of the PTI leader during interrogation". Who would not smell a rat in the sources claiming affiliation with a political party and admission of having committed the murder? A person in custody of anybody for that matter, would admit to anything and everything!

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Youth

Sep 26, 2014 09:01pm

Name & show the person in a press conference. The masses now understands the game better.

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Youth

Sep 26, 2014 10:08pm

@m ahmed No single party is of Darwish in Pakistan. Why single out MQM

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Youth

Sep 26, 2014 10:11pm

Name the arrested person & show to the nation, the nation don't buy the idea of anonymous culprits any one more

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Asher

Sep 27, 2014 12:19am

@Jalbani Baloch It's not rational to release the name of a murder suspect who is still under investigation. Such information can permanently damage the person's reputation even if he's proven innocent afterwards. Since police department is notorious for implicating a single person for multiple crimes, the decision of not revealing the name of the suspect is a sensible one.

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