HYDERABAD: Sunday night’s incident of firing on the vehicle of Sindh Assembly member Nasir Qureshi, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), remained a mystery till late Tuesday evening.

He had claimed that the incident took place at a place falling within the jurisdiction of the Pinyari police station.

MPA Qureshi, a resident of the Noorani Basti area, himself made it mysterious when he declined to lodge an FIR although he narrated the episode to the police.

According to him, he left his house in Noorani Basti to have tea at the house of his party’s councillor in the area, Mr Saeed. After disembarking from his double-cabin vehicle, he headed for Saeed’s house and minutes later some unknown persons riding motorcycles fired shots on his vehicle while he was standing outside the house. Three bullet pockmarks were visible above the wheel on the rear side of his vehicle.

According to SSP Adeel Chandio, one empty was found near the vehicle. He said that MPA Qureshi declined to lodge an FIR but submitted his statement at the Pinyari police station.

Nasir Qureshi was elected MPA in the July 2018 general election for the first time. About one year back, almost an identical incident of firing on his vehicle in the area was reported. He was not present in the car as he was attending a programme. His driver had briefed him about the incident.

“I will let you know,” said the MPA when asked over phone on Tuesday evening as to why he was not lodging an FIR. He did not answer any question and disconnected the call.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2020