Pakistan probes foreign links in killing of religio-political party leader in Sindh

The killing of a local leader of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League in southern Pakistan is now being treated as a high-profile case with suspected foreign links, police officials said, as investigations continue without a formal case registration.

Razaullah Nizamani, 50, vice president of the religio-political party, was shot dead on Monday in the town of Matli, located in Sindh’s Badin district.

Nizamani was reportedly traveling in his car when he stopped briefly. Three armed men on motorcycles, believed to have been following him, opened fire and fled the scene.

He was rushed to the taluka hospital but died from three bullet wounds to the chest and heart, according to medical staff who conducted the post-mortem.

Police say Nizamani had earlier alerted authorities about threats to his life. Two officers had been assigned for his protection, but failed to intervene during the attack.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Tariq Razzaq Dharejo told Nuktathat the First Information Report (FIR) had not yet been registered because the murder is being handled as a high-stakes investigation.

“This is a high-profile case,” said DIG Dharejo. “There are suspicions the murder may have links outside Pakistan.”

A special team of senior officers, led by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Badin, has been formed to investigate. The task force includes SSPs from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Thatta, and Sujawal districts, as well as the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Matli.

Dharejo added that the case will be investigated from multiple angles before filing an FIR and identifying suspects based on evidence.

“This approach is necessary,” he said, “to ensure we uncover the full scope of involvement, especially if foreign actors are linked to the murder.”

Nizamani’s assassination has drawn strong reactions from his party, which accuses India of orchestrating the attack and fueling anti-Pakistan propaganda.

Maulana Faisal Nadeem, the provincial president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, alleged that Indian media had previously painted Nizamani as a terrorist, setting the stage for the killing.

“Razaullah Nizamani was a patriotic Pakistani,” said Nadeem. “He was born and raised in the village of Malhan and had never been involved in any illegal activities.”

He accused the Indian government of planning and executing targeted killings of Pakistani citizens and using its media to falsely implicate victims.

“India is orchestrating attacks through its agents and then spreading lies through its media channels,” Nadeem claimed. “Indian media began broadcasting fabricated stories within just 30 minutes of the murder. That’s not a coincidence, it’s preparation.”

He also pointed to previous statements by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that India would strike inside enemy territory. “Today’s attack reflects that very mindset,” Nadeem said.

The funeral of Nizamani was held in Matli and attended by thousands of party supporters and locals. Security was heightened across the town during the ceremony.

The brazen daylight killing is not the first of its kind in Matli. A few weeks earlier, another religious party worker, Abdul Wahid Kamboh, was shot dead on Tando Ghulam Ali Road in the same town.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing and that any foreign link will be pursued through appropriate legal and diplomatic channels.