Two MQM members given death penalty in Zahra Shahid murder case

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday announced death sentence for two MQM members involved in murder case of PTI leader Zahra Shahid.

While announcing its verdict in the case, the ATC awarded death sentences to Rashid alias Tailor and Zahid Abbas Zaidi for the killing of the PTI leader. Other two suspects in the case, Irfan and Kaleem, were acquitted owing to the lack of evidence, as per the court’s verdict.

The prosecutor of Rangers told the court that the penalized accused were affiliated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and they had accepted of being guilty in Zahra Shahid’s killing during the investigation.

Ms Shahid was shot dead outside her residence in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority Phase-IV in May 2013, ostensibly in an attempted robbery incident.

She had formerly served as the president of women’s wing of the party in Sindh, and was a member of the central executive committee of the party as well. Zahra Shahid Hussain’s murder was committed on the eve of an important re-election that was to take place between Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).