KARACHI, 10 August — Despite arresting several workers of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and other sectarian groups, the joint investigation team remains clueless about the suspects involved in the killings of PSO Chief Shaukat Mirza and the Defense Ministry aide Zafar Zaidi. The government has recently launched a crackdown against militant sectarian groups and inducted paramilitary troops in the countrywide operation.
“Although the crackdown was largely aimed at apprehending activists of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the interrogation of many under detention accused persons is yet to bear fruit,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
“Interrogation of an accused Dilawar aka Tufail has solved the mysteries linked to other old cases.” Apparently the accused has confessed to his involvement in almost three dozen cases pertaining to sectarian-based killings. While interrogation of some other under-custody accused persons was under way, over a dozen people were arrested as a result of information revealed to the investigators by accused Dilawar.
To a question, however, the official said: “It is too early to come to a conclusion in view of Dilwar’s confession. His statement before the magistrate will determine the credibility of his confession.”
Investigators, in the meantime, are not satisfied by the performance of police and intelligence gathering personnel since they remain clueless regarding the recent killing episode in Karachi. “The arrest of more accused persons on information provided by Dilawar might lead to some development,” he said.
SSP’s central leader Hafiz Abu Atiq-ur Rahman condemned the arrest of his workers and continuous raids on party offices. “If the government finds proof over the involvement of our workers, we will produce them before the court of law on our own,” he said by telephone.
In an unrelated development, in a much anticipated move, Al-Khidmat group representative Niamatullah Khan on Wednesday marked the history by winning the position of Karachi’s first nazim, obtaining 2,063 votes in the final round of polling in the local bodies elections.
It is believed that the support of PML-N’s separate group, led by Tariq Khan, turned decisive in Niamatullah’s victory. And in spite of his hectic efforts to gain support of many smaller groups, Taj Haider of Jamhoori panel could secure 1,590 votes. Niamatullah Khan will officially take the charge of Karachi’s first nazim on Pakistan’s 54th independence day.
