Pakistan: Former lawmaker shot dead outside home in Karachi; bodyguard arrested

As per reports, Qadeer the bodyguard of Abidi has been arrested on grounds of suspicion. Instead of immediately retaliating to the fire, he reportedly went inside the house and asked Abidi’s father for a weapon to respond to the suspect’s firing.

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New Delhi: In yet another addition to the series of attacks on political leaders in Pakistan, former lawmaker Syed Ali Raza Abidi was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his home in Karachi on Tuesday night. The former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker was in his car alone, outside his house when two men on a motorbike opened fire at his vehicle, The Dawn reported. He was then immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The post-mortem report revealed that he received four bullets, two in chest and one each in neck and arm. He was shot at point-blank range. As per reports, Qadeer the bodyguard of Abidi has been arrested on grounds of suspicion. Instead of immediately retaliating to the fire, he reportedly went inside the house and asked Abidi’s father for a weapon to respond to the suspect’s firing. Abidi, the entrepreneur-turned-politician was 46 and was considered as one of the brightest faces in the MQM. The Southern port city of Pakistan has witnessed several attacks on politicians of late. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the murder of Abidi in strong words.  President Arif Alvi and other senior political others also condemned the incident. Recently, two workers of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) were killed in the city's Usmania Society.  Earlier this month, six people were injured when a blast hit an MQM gathering in the city.