Political worker killed by a UC chairman in Karachi; Bakhtawar, Nafisa, horrified

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Nafisa Shah have condemned the killing of a political worker in city’s Bhain Colony area at the hands of a Union Council (UC) chairman Rahim Shah, ARY News reported on Friday.

A video had surfaced on Friday which shows a man, identified as Irshad Ranjhani, lying in the pool of his blood. Surrounded by onlookers, Shah, can be heard claiming in the video that he was a “robber” and “carrying a weapon”.

Rahim Shah claimed he withdrew some cash from the bank and some armed assailants in the car followed him. “I retaliated with fire, and this man [Irshad Ranjhani] received bullet wounds, who was also with the criminals,” he added.

Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari expressed resentment on the killing and also expressed her surprise at the audacity to shoot the video as the murder happened.

Revolting footage from #Karachi today of a brutal murder & the audacity to video record whilst point blank shooting & killing a human being – hope the psychopath is locked up for life!! #JusticeForIrshadRanjhani https://t.co/lCQgJFhKCI

— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) February 8, 2019

In her Twitter post, PPP MNA Nafisa Shah also condemned the killing and hoped that the culprits would be brought to justice.

Shocked at the horrifying and brutal murder of a young man – Irshad Ranjhani – in Karachi. Hope the law enforcement agencies will arrest the culprits and bring them to justice. #JusticeForIrshadRanjhani

— Nafisa Shah (@ShahNafisa) February 8, 2019

Police, however, said they had recovered a 9mm pistol from Ranjhani, but no criminal record of the accused had yet been found.

The law enforcers said the statement given by Rahim Shah about location and movement of alleged criminals was verified and it proved to be true. But the police couldn’t get any footage to process their investigation.

According to eye-witnesses, some persons riding a motorbike accompanying with Ranjhani had fled the scene after Rahim Shah opened fire, and one of them –Ranjhani – was killed.