LAHORE: The murder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Dr Shahid Siddique, which rocked the victims’ relatives and a party, was engineered by his own son, police alleged on Monday.
Siddiqui was shot dead by an unknown assailant outside a mosque after Friday prayers in Lahore’s Valencia area. His son was also present at the scene when the incident occurred but escaped unhurt.
Police said Dr Siddique’s son Qayyum planned to murder his father with a friend because the victim refused to allow his son to marry a girl of his choice.
Qayyum took a deal of Rs 5 million for killing his father in January for the same reason, police said, adding that he paid Rs 20 million for the second attack on Siddiqui.
The slain PTI leader is a known figure associated with the medical fraternity who also owned a private hospital in the Johar Town area.
Police said a white car was deployed to search Siddiqui and Qayyum was also on board the vehicle. The victim withdrew cash from the bank on Friday and distributed it to deserving people while the car continued to follow him, they said.
They said a CCTV footage was obtained where Qayyum was seen walking away 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 for more than a decade.
The PTI leadership condemned the killing and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.
Police on Friday collected bullets from the crime scene and formed four teams to nab the gunmen.
This was not the first attempt on his murder, as there was a murderous attack on him in Chuhng area in January. The police could not find the perpetrator of the incident.
