KARACHI: A councillor affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Mov­ement-Pakistan (MQM-P) was shot dead in a suspected targeted attack in Orangi Town on Friday night, police said.

Two masked men stormed Mohammed Anis Siddiqi’s home and fired a single shot before fleeing, said Karachi-West DIG Amir Farooqi. The bullet hit Mr Siddiqi on the chest, killing him on the spot.

The body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

“It appears to be a targeted killing incident linked with political motive,” the DIG said.

He pointed out that the victim was a unit in-charge before being elected as councillor of UC-26.

“He wielded significant influence in the area,” added the DIG.

Another police officer who wished not to be named told Dawn that there were three to four factions of the MQM in the area, eying electoral support in Orangi Town. He suspected that the murder might be linked to it.

Dr Farooq Sattar, leader of the MQM-P PIB Colony faction, demanded inquiry into the murder.

“The killing of Anis Siddiqi by terrorists has put a question mark on the performance of the law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Amir Khan and other Rabita Committee mem­bers belonging to the Bahadurabad faction of the MQM-P visited the hospital.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2018

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