Weapon with which Abidi was killed had been used before: forensics

KARACHI: A forensic report on Wednesday revealed that the weapon used in the murder of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi had been used before in another murder.

Abidi was shot outside his residence in Khayaban-e-Ghazi neighbourhood of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Tuesday night. Unknown assailants shot the former MNA as soon as he disembarked from his vehicle outside his residence. Abidi was shifted to PNS Shifa Hospital in critical condition where he succumbed to his wounds.

After receiving the forensic report, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) In-charge Raja Umar Khattab said, “The weapon used in Abidi’s murder was used to kill a man named Ihtisham in Liaquatabad on December 10.”

“A 30-bore pistol was also used in Ihtisham’s murder. He was shot thrice,” the CTD in-charge said. He further said that according to Ihtisham’s family he was not affiliated with any political party.

“There were pistols in both hands of the suspect and they were both used in Abidi’s murder. Only one bullet was fired from one of the pistols and that is the one which was also used in Ihtisham’s murder,” Khattab said. “The other pistol has not yet been matched to any other murder,” he added.

According to the official, Abidi had reached home from his factory earlier than usual when he was attacked. "Abidi had returned home earlier than his routine time as he had to take his family for dinner," he said.

Police sources added that they have made progress and are investigating the two murders to find a possible link.

A man named Irfan is suspected of ordering a hit on Ihtisham through hired killers. Sources added that Ihtisham used to be neighbours with Irfan and had wanted to marry the latter’s former wife. Moreover, Irfan was involved in betting on cricket and also had contacts in the MQM.

Sources said that Irfan has disappeared after the murder and police have reports of him fleeing to Iran.

Abidi’s guard taken into custody

Earlier today, police took Abidi's guard into custody as investigations into his murder continue, who has now given a statement detailing the incident.

Speaking to the media, SSP Pir Muhammad Shah said, “Abidi's guard, Qadeer, has been taken into custody. The guard instead of immediately retaliating to the fire, went inside the house and asked Abidi's father for a weapon to respond to the suspects' firing.”

"The guard who hails from Dera Ghazi Khan was deployed at Abidi's residence around two months ago," he further said.

SSP Shah added, "The suspects fired after the guard opened the gate."

Qadeer, explaining details, said that he got up to open the door of the house as soon as Abidi's car arrived in front of the house. He opened the door with his right hand while his left hand held a gun. He had only opened one side of the gate when he heard firing, and moved to quickly load his gun. 

"When I tried to load the gun, it didn't, so I tried again, but it didn't the second time either," he said, adding that when he came out of the house no one was there.

"When I saw [Abidi] sahib, he was bleeding from the neck," the guard said.

SSP Shah added: "We are investigating the reasons for Abidi's murder." 

"The suspects have been traced at two to three spots through CCTV footage of cameras installed in the area," he said.

Further, SP Investigation Tariq Dharejo said, "We have recorded statements of seven persons, including the guard."

"The suspects had been following Abidi. There are three bullet holes on Abidi's car and five bullet shells have been recovered. Both windows of the car's right side and the windscreen have been shattered," he added.

Earlier, 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.

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.