Startling claims of ‘hitman’ to be probed by committee

Published November 22, 2019
City police chief Additional IG Ghulam Nabi Memon on Thursday set up a committee to probe the alleged video of a detained MQM-L activist Yusuf, alias Thelewala, whose arrest was shown by police on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in 96 murders, mostly committed in the 1990s, said officials. — Reuters/File
City police chief Additional IG Ghulam Nabi Memon on Thursday set up a committee to probe the alleged video of a detained MQM-L activist Yusuf, alias Thelewala, whose arrest was shown by police on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in 96 murders, mostly committed in the 1990s, said officials. — Reuters/File

KARACHI: City police chief Additional IG Ghulam Nabi Memon on Thursday set up a committee to probe the alleged video of a detained MQM-L activist Yusuf, alias Thelewala, whose arrest was shown by police on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in 96 murders, mostly committed in the 1990s, said officials.

The city police chief took this decision when the Sindh chief minister took notice of a video in which the accused had made startling disclosures, including the claim that he had met the CM when he was in custody of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh in 2017.

The committee is led by DIG East Amir Farooqi and comprises SSP SIU Nauman Siddiqi, SSP Investigation Central Tariq Nawaz and SSP East Investigation Irfan Zaman.

DIG East Amir Farooqi told Dawn that they would investigate as to how, where and who made the purported video of the held suspect and what was its authenticity.

The police committee would also ascertain as to why he was not arrested in other cases.

The senior officer recalled that Yusuf was first arrested in 1996 and again in 1998. It would also be ascertained as to whether he was arrested by other law enforcers.

He was released on parole in 2003 in one criminal case because he was not wanted in other cases at that time.

The committee would also see as to whether there was any negligence on part of the police for not arresting the suspect during all these years.

The body is expected to furnish its findings on Friday.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2019

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