KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, on Wednesday claimed to have arrested two suspects belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (London) for allegedly killing two Pak Sarzameen Party workers in Orangi Town.

Speaking at a press conference at the Rangers’ Headquarters, Col Qaiser Khattak said that the held suspects, Mohammad Danish and Mohammed Raheem, had killed PSP workers Nadeem Maulana and Rashid Lal Khan on the direction of MQM-L leaders through their ‘South Africa network’.

The two PSP workers were gunned down by armed motorcyclists outside their homes near Sindh Govt Qatar Hospital in Orangi on July 17.

The officer also showed a bank transaction of Rs50,000 made by some South Africa elements in the name of Mohammed Danish.

Col Qaiser also played a voice message said to be of Altaf Hussain in which the MQM founder congratulated Danish for doing ‘such a beautiful programme’.

MQM-L denies Rangers’ claim

Following the double murder in Orangi last week, the paramilitary force had set up a special team of officials, he said, adding that a witness provided vital information leading to the arrest of the suspects. The weapon and the motorbike used in the attack were also seized, said the Rangers’ officer. 

Raids were under way to arrest their accomplices, he claimed.

According to him, the held suspects ‘confessed’ to their involvement in the double murder and said they showed their association with the MQM-L.

They told the investigators that they had received a WhatsApp message from some elements in South Africa such as Qamarul Islam alias Qamar Teddy and Waseem alias Abdullah. This message had also been retrieved from the mobile phone seized from the held suspects.

Two days after the double murder case, Abdullah sent a voice message to Mohammad Danish, in which Abdullah was heard telling Danish that Altaf Hussain also wanted to ‘directly’ talk with him.

Col Qaiser also played Altaf Hussain’s voice message that he said was made at around 5.10pm on July 19. Next day a transaction of Rs50,000 was made through a Pakistan-based bank, he added.

“The held suspects confessed that they carried out the double murder on directions of the party leaders in London.”

The suspects were also involved in spreading hatred against armed forces and the country and carrying out wall-chalking in favour of Altaf Hussain, the official said.

They disclosed that they were planning to target some political leaders and workers on the directives of Altaf Hussain, Nadeem Nusrat, Qamar Teddy and Rasheed alias Babu Bihari.

“I want to tell the MQM leaders sitting in London that now times have passed when they used to carry out targeted killings of people through one order, got [the] city closed through one strike call and got shops etc burnt over non-payment of extortion,” said Col Qaiser.

Now the citizens of Karachi and people living abroad have rejected them (MQM-London), he said.

‘Altaf network’

However, in reply to a question, the officer said that the ‘Altaf network’ did not exist in the city. Only some small groups were being financed through London and South Africa, he said.

He clarified that their activities were not ‘party specific’ but they were focusing on criminal elements only.

Police killings

Col Qaiser told the media that DG Rangers, Maj Gen Mohammed Saeed, had set up a joint investigation team to probe the recent targeted killing of policemen in the city and chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday.

“We have got some good leads about identity and motive of the killers and good news would be shared soon,” said the official.

He said banned militant outfits were being operated from Afghanistan, therefore, different claims of responsibility were being made by various outfits. He opined that different claims of the killing by outfits were basically aimed at seeking ‘financing’. “We know from where these outfits are operating.”

The Rangers believed that Karachi’s situation has improved to a large extent.

“One or two targeted killings [have] tended to take place, but the situation [is] not alarming,” observed Col Qaiser.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2017