By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan
Gunmen have critically injured a Pakistani politician in the port city Karachi on Tuesday, said police.
Rasheed Godial, an MP for the controversial Karachi-based Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was ambushed on a busy street city along with his wife and driver, who was killed.
Muneer Shaikh, a city police chief, said Godial's injuries were "very critical" after he was shot five times, including in the face, neck and chest.
Godial was one of 80 MQM lawmakers who staged a mass resignation last week over the alleged "repression" of their party by security forces in Karachi.
Their resignations have not been accepted as politicians stage back-door efforts to bring MQM back into the fold.
The party has been at the center of controversy after party chief Altaf Hussein, who lives in exile in London but still delivers fiery speeches by phone, accused the military of targeting his party.
Hundreds of MQM activists have been arrested for alleged involvement in the targeted killings of political opponents and security forces, extortion and other crimes in a Karachi security crackdown that has also focused on gangs and the Taliban.
MQM initially claimed to represent the Urdu-speaking migrants who moved to Pakistan with the partition of India in 1947 and has strong influence in southern Sindh province but has been accused of operating like an organized gang through its alleged use of violence and intimidation.
