Man who shot at Ali Raza Abidi identified, court told

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday directed the Counter Terrorism Department of Sindh police to arrest three absconding accused in the Ali Raza Abidi murder case and present them before it on next hearing, ARY News reported.

In a major headway, CTD investigators have identified the suspect who fired shots at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) leader, according to a progress report submitted to the court.

Suspect Bilal, one of the three absconding accused, shot at Ali Raza Abidi, said CTD, adding the absconders will be arrested soon.

Meanwhile, the court issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the accused and directed CTD to nab and present them before it on the next hearing.

It ordered provision of a copy of a charge-sheet to the arrested accused – Farooq, Muhammad Ghazali, Abu Bakar and Abdul Haseeb.

According to the police, the suspects had murdered the MQM leader in exchange for Rs800,000.

Police on March 20 had submitted a final challan in the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the case. The investigators included confessional statements of suspects in the challan, and termed the confession a ‘big achievement’.

Police said four suspects were arrested in the case, while four others were absconding and 12 witnesses had recorded their statement.

The arrested suspects had confessed to the crime, police claim.

Former Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi was gunned down last year on Dec 25 outside his residence in Defence Housing Authority.