Ali Raza Abidi’s murder case yet to be registered, investigation under way

KARACHI: A case is yet to be registered for the murder of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi who was shot dead in Karachi on Tuesday.

Police has, however, started investigations and recorded statements of Abidi’s guards.

Abidi was shot outside his residence in Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood of Defense Housing Authority (DHA).

Unknown assailants shot the former MNA as soon as he disembarked from his vehicle outside his residence. Abidi was immediately shifted to PNS Shifa Hospital in critical condition. He, however, succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.

Speaking exclusively to Geo News, Abidi’s father Ikhlaq Abidi said his son sustained two bullets to his neck and one in torso. He said the assailants were riding a motorbike.

Doctors conducted a post-mortem on the deceased’s body. According to the initial report, Abidi sustained four bullets in the neck, arm and chest.

Former MQM-P MNA Ali Raza Abidi shot dead in Karachi

The closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of Abidi’s assassination showed him arriving at his residence in his car. As he pauses for the gate to open, two suspects enter the frame on a motorcycle, having chased him to his home, and stop right next to the driver’s door. One of the suspects disembarks the bike, the video clip indicates, and opens fire on Abidi, while his accomplice remains seated, with the motorcycle’s engine running.

The suspect fires multiple shots and Abidi’s car lurches in towards the car porch before halting completely, as per the video. The gunman then returns to his accomplice and both of them flee on the bike.
Target killings once again on the rise

Abidi’s death comes days after two workers of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) were gunned down in the city’s Usmania Society neighbourhood.

Prior to that, earlier this month, six people were wounded when a low-intensity blast hit a Milad gathering organised by MQM-Pakistan in Gulistan-e-Johar.
Career

Abidi was elected as a member of the National Assembly (MNA) on the MQM’s ticket in the 2013 general elections. However, he later joined the Pakistan faction of the party. He had resigned from his MNA post in November 2017 citing "political and personal reasons”.

The resignation had come days after Abidi announced to quit the MQM-P after it entered into an electoral alliance with the PSP.

Abidi, however, rejoined MQM-P in December 2017, before finally leaving the party in September this year.