KARACHI: Police have arrested a suspect who claims to be a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and confesses to his involvement in the murders of Karachi University dean of Islamic Studies Prof Dr Shakeel Auj and Prof Syed Sibte Jafar and an armed attack on Rangers personnel, according to Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo.

“Police have arrested Mohammed Mansur, who says he belongs to the MQM,” said Mr Thebo at a press conference at the CPO here on Wednesday.

Four other suspects including Fahim Jabalpuri and Ehtasham were absconders in the case, he said.

“Prof Auj’s murder was not related to sectarianism,” said the Karachi police chief. At the outset of the investigation police had interrogated Prof Auj’s colleagues some of whom were behind a blasphemy charge campaign after which the late professor lodged a case at the Mobina Town police station.

Prof Auj had received threatening messages before he was gunned down on main University Road at the Nipa bridge in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Sept 18, 2014, while he was on his way to attend a ceremony at the Iranian Cultural Centre, Clifton, in a friend’s car.

Dr Amna Afrin, student of the late professor, was hurt in the attack.

In the course of interrogation, the suspect also confessed to his involvement in the murder of Prof Syed Sibte Jafar who had been gunned down in Liaquatabad on March 17, 2013, said Mr Thebo.

The suspect also killed three workers of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi in 1993 and was “also involved in an armed attack on Rangers personnel in New Town on Sept 10, 2014,” said the city police chief.

He said the suspect also worked as a ward boy at the Sindh Government Hospital in Liaquatabad.

Accompanied by DIG-East Munir Ahmed Shaikh, SSP-East Pir Mohammed Shah, Karachi University Teachers Society office-bearers Dr Jamil Kazmi and Moiz Khan and Prof Auj’s son Dr Mohammad Hassan, the Karachi police chief said the suspect did not tell the interrogators his motive for the murder of Prof Auj.

Mansur only told police that he was asked by Ehtasham to kill Prof Auj, he added.

At the start of the press conference, the Karachi police chief conceded that there had lately been an ‘abnormal increase’ in targeted killings in Karachi Central district where seven policemen and three doctors had been killed besides killing of MQM workers during January.

“We are concerned as to why targeted killings have increased in Karachi Central district though policing had been better there and the area was inhabited by educated people,” said Mr Thebo.

In reply to a question, he said that they were looking into the MQM’s recent protest outside Chief Minister House and if any evidence emerged that proved it was indeed an ‘attack’ and if anyone lodged an FIR, they would look into it.

He said that contents of his interview to the BBC had been taken out of context as he had talked about many causes behind targeted killings in the metropolis.

In response to another question, the city police chief said that soldiers had enhanced checking at entry and exit points of the city to check trafficking of arms, drugs, explosive material and illegal immigrants.

KUTS president Dr Jamil Kazmi said that people involved behind the murder of Prof Auj should also be exposed. The government’s promise of paying a Rs3 million compensation to the family of the slain professor should be fulfilled immediately, he said.

Dr Kazmi said KU was spread over 1,520 acres where around 50,000 people came daily, thus making security a major issue. Surveillance cameras had been installed recently to enhance security, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2015

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