Involvement of political, militant elements possible in Godil attack

KARACHI: Police investigators on Friday said that they have focused on political rivalry and terrorism for destabilisation as possible motives behind the attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislator Abdul Rashid Godil. It was also suggested that a nexus might exist between the two elements.

The security forces had previously considered both motives separately, this is the first time that a possible nexus has been suggested.

During the last two days, security forces have conducted search operations in different areas of the city and detained over 30 people for questioning.

Read: MQM's Rashid Godil critical after Karachi attack

“Three suspects are being questioned in relation to the identity and motive of the attackers,” said a senior police officer, who is part of the investigation team.

“CCTV footage showed that the suspects chased the lawmaker after he left his residence, the suspects who shot and critically injured Godil and killed his driver did not appear to be the same,” stated the police official.

"It appears that one group chased the legislator while another group attacked him," added the police official.

Security officials investigating the case have obtained CCTV footage from multiple locations, but are unable to identify the attackers or the registration numbers of the vehicles used in the attack.

“We have decided to seek assistance from both local and foreign experts,” remarked the police official.

Another police official who wished to remain anonymous said that the district police was focusing on possible involvement of activists of two political parties while special units of the police were focusing on the possible involvement of militant elements.

“Rashid Godil was targeted because he belonged to MQM, was a lawmaker and more importantly he appeared to be a soft target,” said an investigator of the case.

The police official also added that Godil was targeted in Bahadurabad as it was easy to escape from the area.

“A newly-formed militant group has targeted MQM workers recently and some of their members have been found residing in the same vicinity of Bahadurabad,” stated the police official.

MQM leader Rashid Godil was critically wounded after unidentified armed men opened fire at his vehicle near his residence in Karachi's Bahadurabad area on Tuesday following which he underwent emergency surgery at the Liaquat National Hospital (LNH).

Also read: Attackers chased Godil’s car from Baloch Colony area

The attack occurred as Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was in talks with senior MQM leaders regarding the party's resignations from the federal and provincial assemblies, and the Senate last week.

Rashid Godil has served as MQM's deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly until MQM lawmakers' recent submission of resignations from the assemblies. He was elected as a Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Karachi's NA-252 constituency during the 2013 general elections.