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Published 10 Jan, 2019 05:25am

Gunman threatens ex-governor Zubair in Defence

KARACHI: A suspect pointed his gun at former governor of Sindh Mohammad Zubair, who was travelling with his family without any security in Defence Housing Authority late on Tuesday night, officials said on Wednesday.

The former governor with his wife was on his way in a car to meet his relatives when one of the two or three suspects travelling in a car showed a pistol to him on Khayaban-i-Muhafiz, Phase VI, said Darakhshan SHO Arshad Janjua.

Mr Zubair, a prominent PML-N leader, was himself driving the vehicle.

Police investigating the incident from ‘various angles’

The officer said the armed suspect, travelling in a white Corolla, did not say anything to Mr Zubair, elder brother of Federal Finance Minister Asad Umar.

He had no security at the time (around 11.30pm) of the incident.

The FIR of the incident (No. 18/2019) was filed on Wednesday at the Darakshan police station by Hasan, Mr Zubair’s son, under relevant sections of the law.

‘Different angles’

The police have not arrived at any conclusion about the incident.

“We are looking into the incident from various angles,” said DIG South Sharjeel Kharal without elaborating.

The senior officer told Dawn that the police had “reviewed the security” for the ex-governor after the episode.

Mr Kharal pointed out that the SSP South and his team visited Mr Zubair’s residence and discussed the issue with him.

Meanwhile, South SSP Pir Mohammed Shah talking to the media after meeting the former governor at his residence in Defence said that security had already been provided to Mr Zubair but the ex-governor apparently did not deem it advisable to take the guards with him. He added that security measures had been reviewed after the incident.

He disclosed that the police would obtain the CCTV footage from the area to ascertain possible identity of the suspects.

PTI condemns episode

Meanwhile PTI parliamentary party leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Shaikh has condemned the incident in which former governor Zubair was targeted.

They PTI leader also asked the home secretary for foolproof security for himself due to the threats he was receiving being an “outspoken critic of the PPP government and leaders”.

Mr Shaikh, who is also general secretary of the PTI Sindh chapter, was talking to media before the assembly session on Wednesday. He said the attempt against former governor Zubair was a dastardly act which deserves condemnation in strongest terms.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2019

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