June 16, 2006	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1427

KARACHI, June 15: Police investigators suspect that any of the criminal groups whose men are languishing in jail could be involved in the killing of the deputy superintendent of the Central Prison, Karachi, Amanullah Khan Niazi, and his three associates here on Thursday.

The police, though immediately could not find a clue to or motive for the killing, suspect that members of some crime syndicates whose chiefs or associates had died in unexplained circumstances could be involved in the murder of Niazi.

The investigators started collecting information about those groups and individuals, facing trials or serving jail sentences, in the central prison. "It is necessary to examine the details of criminals and incidents, including deaths, which occurred during the tenure of Aamanullah Niazi as DS jail. Only after a thorough investigation can we reach any conclusion," DIG Investigation Zone-1 Manzoor Mughal told Dawn.

"We are investigating the case from all aspects and the investigators are examining the record of present inmates. We came to know that Amanullah was a strict administrator and he dealt with criminals sternly. Though he had received frequent threats from certain quarters recently, he did not lodge any complaint with the police. The nature of threats and those behind it are yet to be investigated," said Mr Mughal.

He said Habibullah, the brother of the slain Niazi, was wounded in the attack and was being treated in a hospital. "We are waiting for his early recovery as he was acting Niazi's guard and he knows the nature of threats and those behind it. His statement will definitely help police trace the culprits," Mr Mughal added.

About the incident, he said the assailants must be more than four in number. The assailants left a motorcycle behind, and after verification it was found that the motorcycle had been snatched at gunpoint on June 11. The police have contacted the complainant to get a sketch prepared of those who had snatched the motorcycle from him, he added.

Police sources said that the Toyota Corolla in which Niazi was travelling was of 2006 model and was registered in the name of Begum Jan. The other escort vehicle Suzuki Hi-roof bearing registration number GS-5030 carrying Niazi's brother and guards, was not registered with the excise and taxation department.

Amanullah Niazi, a resident of Lyari, served in the central prison Karachi for more than eight years.

The jail officials said Mr Niazi was placed under suspension after the incident of 1983 Sukkur jailbreak in which 34 convicts had escaped. He was awarded departmental punishments under five different charges by Sohail Ahmed Durrani, the then IGP Jail Sindh, the sources added.

Niazi was also nominated in different criminal cases, as the FIR Nos 50/1987 and 51/1087 were registered against him in the Nabi Bux police station for robbery and possession of illegal arms. FIR numbers 148/1987 and 471/1992 were registered against him in the Clifton and Kharadar police stations respectively, sources said.

During the tenure of the slain Amanullah Khan Niazi, many people died in judicial custody and the cause of their deaths could not be explained properly.

According to the available data, 10 persons died in judicial custody. On January 30, 2006, Mohammad Hasan Gichki, son-in-law of veteran Baloch politician Ataullah Mengal and brother-in-law of Akhtar Mengal, the former chief minister of Balochistan, was brought dead from the central jail. Gichki was an under-trial prison since April 2005.

Hasan Gichki, who had been confined to the jail since April 2005 as a UTP, died mysteriously and the statements of jail and hospital officials deepened the mystery.

After his death, the provincial home department had ordered an inquiry into the deaths of all those who had died in judicial custody. The results of inquiries are yet to be disclosed.