This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22584440
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Pakistan politician Zahra Shahid Hussain killed in Karachi | Pakistan politician Zahra Shahid Hussain killed in Karachi |
(35 minutes later) | |
A senior female Pakistani politician has been shot dead in the southern port city of Karachi. | |
Zahra Shahid Hussain was the senior vice-president of Pakistan's Movement for Justice party (PTI), led by former international cricketer Imran Khan. | Zahra Shahid Hussain was the senior vice-president of Pakistan's Movement for Justice party (PTI), led by former international cricketer Imran Khan. |
She was killed outside her home in the city's upmarket Defence neighbourhood. | She was killed outside her home in the city's upmarket Defence neighbourhood. |
Her murder comes on the eve of a highly-contested partial re-run of the vote in the area following last Saturday's general election. | Her murder comes on the eve of a highly-contested partial re-run of the vote in the area following last Saturday's general election. |
The reason for the shooting is unclear. | The reason for the shooting is unclear. |
The BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Karachi says Imran Khan has blamed the city's dominant MQM party for her murder, a claim the party has denied. | The BBC's Shahzeb Jillani in Karachi says Imran Khan has blamed the city's dominant MQM party for her murder, a claim the party has denied. |
Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, citing police, said the shooting happened during an attempted robbery. | Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, citing police, said the shooting happened during an attempted robbery. |
Our correspondent says that reports of Ms Hussain being shot twice in the head raise suspicions that it was a targeted killing made to look like a robbery. | Our correspondent says that reports of Ms Hussain being shot twice in the head raise suspicions that it was a targeted killing made to look like a robbery. |
Ms Hussain was reportedly rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries on the way. | Ms Hussain was reportedly rushed to hospital but succumbed to her injuries on the way. |
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the murder, describing it as a "tragic incident". | |
The partial re-run of the vote in Karachi was ordered after Mr Khan's party accused the MQM of widespread vote-rigging and intimidation. | |
The MQM - which took most of the seats in Karachi - denies any irregularities. | The MQM - which took most of the seats in Karachi - denies any irregularities. |
Karachi is torn by regular violence - much of it politically motivated. | Karachi is torn by regular violence - much of it politically motivated. |