Youth paid Rs20m to assassin for father’s murder

LAHORE: Police in Lahore have arrested a son of PTI founding leader and owner of a hospital for orchestrating his murder through a hired assassin three days ago.

Dr Shahid Siddiqui was shot dead by a lone gunman when he came out of a mosque after offering Friday prayers along with his son Qayyum on August 2. During police investigation, it transpired that Qayyum was involved in getting his father killed through a hired assassin.

Police told the media that Qayyum wanted to marry a girl but his father was against it. The son had also planned an attack on his father in January by paying Rs500,000 to the assassin, but it remained unsuccessful.

This time, he allegedly paid Rs20 million to him and got his father killed. The hired assassin had started following Dr Shahid since 9:50am on Friday, according to police. The son of the doctor was also riding the car along with the hired assassin. 

Before the Friday prayers, Dr Shahid withdrew cash and distributed it among deserving persons during which the suspected car was following him. The son then went to the same mosque to offer Friday prayers along with his father.

When the doctor came out of the mosque along with his son Qayyum, the shooter appeared and shot him dead. The police said that Qayyum later himself led the funeral prayer of his father.

Based on CCTV footage, the police arrested the car driver which led to the revelation about the involvement of the son in the murder of the doctor. Further investigation is ongoing in the case.