KARACHI, June 2: Police arrested on Sunday an activist of a banned organization for his involvement in high-profile killings.

“We have arrested Qari Ataullah alias Ata Haidery in Liaquatabad and recovered a Kalashnikov rifle and a TT pistol from his possession. He is affiliated with the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi,” said Aslam Khan, DSP Nazimabad.

He said Ata was allegedly involved in the killings of a nephrologist, Dr Alay Safdar Zaidi, and the principal of a college, Syed Zafar Zaidi, this year. The suspect was being grilled and further disclosures were also expected, he added.

Nephrologist Dr Alay Safdar Zaidi, aged 40, travelling in his car, was shot dead on March 4 by unidentified assailants, riding on a motorcycle, at a traffic signal near Masjid Sultan in Defence Housing Authority. The doctor had been serving as a consultant at Kidney Centre for eight months, after he returned from the US, where he stayed for 10 years for study.

The principal of a government institute, his driver and peon were shot dead in an ambush in Al-Falah Society, Malir, on May 6. Syed Zafar Mehdi Zaidi, aged 50, Principal of Government Jamia Millia Polytechnic Institute, his driver Mir Zaman, aged 49, and peon Mukhtar, aged 54, travelling in a Suzuki hi-roof (GS-5062), were sprayed with bullets about 500 yards away from the Institute.