ISLAMABAD, March 6: Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto on Saturday denounced the murder of party's MPA Abdullah Murad in Karachi and called for a judicial probe into the murder besides demanding the dismissal of the provincial government.

The PPP MPA was shot dead by unknown assailants in Karachi on Saturday.

In a statement issued here by the PPP media cell, the former premier termed the murder cold blooded, saying the murder of Abdullah Murad was a targeted killing.

Benazir Bhutto expressed reservations at the hurried way Abdullah Murad's car was removed from the scene, adding it was removed without waiting for the preliminary investigations to be completed.

She said that a few days ago late Abdullah Murad had also confided to senior party colleagues that a certain section in the provincial government was targeting him and that he feared for his life.

She criticized the law enforcement agencies for what she termed the callous way protestors were handled, saying instead of calming them down they had resorted to firing tear-gas shells.

Benazir Bhutto said that the perpetrators of the targeted killing should be unearthed through a judicial probe and punished in accordance with the law, adding the provincial government, which, she said, had failed to protect the life of a member of the provincial assembly, could not be expected to protect the life, honour and property of ordinary citizens and should be sacked immediately.

Paying tribute to late Abdullah Murad, she said that the late MPA was in the forefront of struggle for advancing the cause of human rights in the province.

"The killers of late Abdullah Murad will not go scot free and will have to account for their crime, if not today then tomorrow".

She prayed to Allah to bless the soul of late Abdulah Murad and to grant strength to members of the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.