Son turns out to be killer of PTI leader

LAHORE: The killer of the founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Dr Shahid Siddique turned nobody else but allegedly his own son, who hired the assassins in Rs20 million.

The officers of Organized Crime Unit (OCU) claimed that the accused persons have also confessed to the crime. An unidentified assailant shot Siddiqui dead outside a mosque after Friday prayers in Valencia Town area. His son was also present at the crime scene when the incident took place, but he escaped unhurt. 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 with his beloved. 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 which proved fatal. Police said a white car was deployed on recce of Siddiqui since from morning 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 surveillance camera footage was obtained, wherein Qayyum could be seen recceing with the prime suspect. The close friend of accused person has also been taken into custody who helped him hatching the plan. Police said the same son who masterminded the murder led his father’s funeral prayers. The slain PTI leader was a well-known figure related to medical fraternity, who also owned a private hospital in the area of Johar Town. 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 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.