RAWALPINDI: Mohammad Yousaf – the prison guard who shot a man accused of blasphemy at the Adiala Jail on Thursday – had told friends he had dreams where he received ‘divine guidance’ and would often say that he was willing to put his life on the line for the sake of his religious beliefs.

Much like Mumtaz Qadri – the policeman who shot and killed former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer in cold blood - Yousaf also had marked religious leanings and belonged to the Barelvi school of thought.

The 25-year-old from Chiniot joined the force in 2009 in Lahore. He was transferred to the Kot Lakhpat Jail, and also worked in Gujranwala, where he received Elite Force training for six month. He came to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on April 28, 2013 and was last deployed at the prison’s Gate No. 5.

The eldest of four brothers and a sister, he was the sole breadwinner for his family, who live in Chiniot.

One of his colleagues from Adiala told Dawn that he was convinced that a divine entity would appear in his dreams. He said that Yousaf had wanted to lead prayers at the prison mosque and did so for some time. “Yousaf was also inspired by (Mumtaz) Qadri, who had also been detained at Adiala Jail for some time,” the policeman said.

Investigators looking into possible links with religious groups, Mumtaz Qadri

He spent some time in the barracks where Qadri was being held. “I don’t remember the exact dates, but it was in the winter, maybe January or February. Duties are rotated on a monthly basis,” he said.

Dawn tried to independently confirm this claim with other people who knew the shooter, but this was not immediately possible.

Talking about his motivation, the policeman said, “Yousaf believed that the blasphemy accused could possibly be freed by the courts and he believed that the man should be punished,” he said, adding that Yousaf had learned that the accused – who is a British national – would regularly meet with embassy officials.

Investigation

Police obtained a three-day remand of the shooter in order to investigate further before they produced him before a court. The shooter also recorded his statement.

Saddar Bairooni SHO Raja Rasheed told Dawn the accused accepted that he shot the inmate accused of blasphemy, insisting that he had a dream which compelled him to do so. He said that he was sure the man would be set free and wanted to kill him to punish him properly.

However, the SHO said that police interrogate all the suspect’s colleagues to establish whether he acted on his own, or he was compelled to do so by a religious group.

“I think he is mentally unstable. I might be wrong, but anyone who claims to have dreams of divine guidance cannot be a normal person,” he said, giving his personal opinion about the suspect.

Mr Rasheed told Dawn police were looking into all possible aspects and would examine the shooter’s phone records, as well as checking up on who he met with in the past few months. “We are also looking into his links with Mumtaz Qadri,” he said.

Regional Police Officer Akhtar Umer Hayat Laleka told Dawn the police had started scrutinizing officers, especially those deployed in prisons or those appointed for security detail at key installations.

Police also recorded the statement of the wounded inmate on Friday, who is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital and is said to be in a stable condition.

In the brief statement, the British-Pakistani man said he had never seen his attacker in his barracks and did not have any enmity with the man.

Published in Dawn, September 27th , 2014