Son of slain PTI leader Dr Shahid Siddiqui confesses to murdering his father

LAHORE: The son of a slain Pakistani politician on Monday confessed to murdering his father, police said, saying the man had set up an assassination attempt for the deceased.

Qayyum Shahid, son of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaft (PTI) party leader and businessman Dr. Shahid Siddiqui, said he had his father killed by a hired gunman for opposing his marriage to a love interest.

Police said Qayyum had also confessed to making an attempt at his father’s life eight months ago when he paid Rs2.5 million to a mercenary. The remaining half was to be given to the shooter following the completion of task, they added noting that the son had led his father’s funeral prayers.

According to a First Information Report (FIR), Dr. Shahid Siddique was heavily wounded in a shooting in Valencia Town’s H-Block. The politician was returning from a mosque when an unidentified assailant approached and shot him. Dr. Shahid suffered four bullet wounds and succumbed to his injuries at a local medical facility.

The FIR also mentioned that Qayyum and his brother Sajid had accompanied their father to Valencia Town’s H-Block.

Police said they were looking after four potential suspects in the murder case. They believed Dr. Shahid’s murder may be tied to a dispute involving a laboratory in Multan.