KARACHI: Abdul Rashid Godil, a senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and member of the National Assembly, was critically injured in an attack on his car in the city’s Bahadurabad area on Tuesday.

The attack, which left his driver dead, came as a serious blow to the authorities’ claim of restoration of peace in Karachi because of the Rangers operation.

The attack on Mr Godil, who is battling for his life at the intensive care unit of Liaquat National Hospital (LNH), coincided with a meeting between Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and MQM leaders at the party’s Nine Zero headquarters. The Maulana has been asked by the prime minister to try to persuade MQM legislators to review their decision of resigning from parliament and the Sindh Assembly.

“Mr Godil left his home in Bahadurabad, near Qurtaba Market, in his car at about 11.30am. When the car reached near Street 3, four men on two motorcycles opened fire at it. Driver Abdul Mateen died on the spot while Mr Godil was badly injured. His wife remained unhurt,” additional IG Karachi Mushtaq Mahar said.

The attack on Rashid Godil came at a time when Maulana Fazl was meeting MQM leaders at Nine Zero

He said a 9mm pistol was used in the attack. The MQM leader was hit by two bullets in the neck and three in the chest. He was taken to the LNH, where doctors put him under ventilator after surgery.

A spokesman for the hospital said doctors were trying to save his life, but his condition had not stabilised due to excessive bleeding and deep wounds.

“We have collected sufficient evidence from the scene, including cases of spent bullets and footage of CCTV cameras installed in the area,” Mushtaq Mahar said, adding that an investigation team had been constituted under DIG East Munir Ahmed Sheikh. The SSP East, SSP investigation and SSP Special Investigation Unit are its members.

A number of officials of intelligence and investigation agencies, including the Karachi police chief, visited the crime scene.

The chief of CID’s counter-terror unit, Raja Umer Khattab, said initial findings suggested that the attackers were well aware of Mr Godil’s movement and schedule and had complete information about each and every corner of the neighbourhood.

Sindh Rangers condemned the attack on Mr Godil and said the incident would be investigated from all possible angles and the planners and attackers brought to justice.

In a statement, a spokesman for the paramilitary force appealed to the people to share information about the attack and call its helpline number 1101.

Statements of condemnation poured in from almost all parties, including the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Awami National Party and different factions of the Pakistan Muslim League.

Leaders of the parties visited the LNH and expressed their sympathy with MQM leaders and family members of Mr Godil present there.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2015

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