NAWABSHAH, July 19: Markets were closed in Nawabshah and Sakrand on Tuesday after a leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was injured in a firing incident.

Two men riding a motorcycle opened fire on the car of Anwar Saleem Khanzada, the in-charge of the labour division of the MQM, on the National Highway near Sand Keerio village while he was going to Karachi from Sakrand, said SP investigation Aslam Langah. He said that Mr Khanzada received two bullets.

He was taken to the People's Medical College Hospital and, after being administered first aid, referred to a Karachi hospital.

A large number of MQM workers, including its zonal in-charge Shiraz Masood, PPP MNA Faryal Talpur's political coordinator Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and DPO Nisar Channa reached the hospital and inquired about the incident.

Main markets and bazaars of Nawabshah and Sakrand were closed and aerial firing was reported from many areas.

The SP said that the investigation into the attack was underway and it was premature to say whether it was a murder attempt or an act of highwaymen.