Political leaders denounce assassination attempt on Mufti Taqi Usmani
March 22, 2019
KARACHI: Political leaders on Friday denounced assassination attempt on renowned religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani in Karachi, which resulted in the killing of two of his security guards.
Mufti Usmani survived the assassination attempt as unidentified gunmen opened fire on two vehicles near Karachi's NIPA Chowrangi. The CCTV footage of the incident showed the assailants riding on two motorbikes shooting at the vehicles coming from the opposite side of the road, before turning and briefly chasing them to fire again.
Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned assassination attempt on Mufti Taqi Usmani and expressed sorrow over the killing of his guards in the targeted attack.
"The attack on an esteemed figure like Mufti Taqi Usmani is a conspiracy," the prime minister said, vowing to make every possible effort to expose this conspiracy.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif said the attack on a renowned religious figure and an academic like Mufti Usmani was a "moment of concern".
Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman said religious scholars were being targeted in the country as part of a "conspiracy".
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the incident and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Leaders of Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia also denounced the assassination attempt on Mufti Taqi Usmani.
Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
