LAHORE: Murder of the founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Dr Shahid Siddique, that shook the victim’s relatives and party, was engineered by his own son, alleged police on Monday.
An unidentified assailant shot Siddiqui dead outside a mosque after Friday prayer in Lahore’s Valencia Town area. His son was also present at the crime scene while the incident took place, but he escaped unharmed. Police said Qayyum, Dr Siddique’s son, planned his father’s murder with a friend, over the victim’s refusal to allow his son to marry a girl of his choice.
Qayyum had made a deal of Rs5 million for killing his father in January for the same reason, said police, adding he paid Rs20 million for the second attack on Siddiqui.
The slain PTI leader is a well-known figure related to medical fraternity, who also owned a private hospital in the area of Johar Town.
Police said a white car was deployed on recce of Siddiqui and Qayyum was also aboard the vehicle. The victim withdrew cash from a bank and distributed among deserving people on Friday, while the car continued to follow him, they said.
They said a surveillance camera footage was obtained, wherein Qayyum could be seen recceing with the prime suspect.
Police said the same son who masterminded the murder led his father’s funeral prayer.
Siddiqui contested the 2002 general elections and remained a senior member of PTI Punjab organisation for more than a decade.
The PTI leadership has condemned the killing and demanded stern action against the perpetrators.
The police had on Friday collected the bullet shells from the crime scene and formed four teams dedicated to apprehending the shooters.
This was not the first murder attempt on him as there was a murderous assault on him in the Chuhng area in January. Police had failed to find the culprits involved in the incident. –Agencies
