KARACHI: Police’s Counter Terrorism Department on Wednesday claimed to have arrested five suspects allegedly linked with the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, who had allegedly revealed that four teams of hitmen had become ‘active’ on directions of their incarcerated leaders to carry out targeted killings, said officials.

Acting on a tip-off, the CTD conducted an action in old Golimar area and apprehended five suspects namely Kazim Ali Shah, alias Shahji; Mohammed Saqib; Abdul Rehman, alias Zubair; Umair, alias Khalil and Shahab, alias Chota.

The held suspects were allegedly affiliated with the Hafiz Qasim Rasheed group of the LJ, said Ali Raza, in-charge of the targeted killing working group of the CTD.

They have ‘confessed’ to targeted killings of over six persons, the officer added.

‘Four teams of hitmen have become active’

During the initial probe, the suspects revealed that they got directions from their incarcerated leaders identified as Hafiz Qasim Rasheed and Waseem, alias Baroodi.

“Under patronisation of imprisoned leaders, four teams of hitmen have become active in Karachi, who have been specifically tasked with carrying out targeted killings of law enforcers and religious leaders,” claimed the official.

A list of possible targets has been recovered from them.

The suspects also told the investigators that Waseem Baroodi had directed them to contact other LJ men and establish more teams of hitmen.

The held suspects were planning to target personnel of law enforcement agencies and religious personalities. They also revealed that the LJ militants no longer maintained contact with each other on phone.

The police claimed to have seized one Kalashnikov and four pistols from them. Meanwhile, Additional IG of CTD Dr Jamil Ahmed announced appreciation certificates and cash rewards for the police party.

Man shot dead by nephews over plot dispute

A man was shot dead while his two sons and a grandson were wounded allegedly by their close relatives over a property dispute in Baldia Town on Wednesday, said Madina Colony police.

They added that Fazal Amjad, 55, was killed while his two sons Zafar, 22, and Alam Zaib, 25, and grandson Bilal, 6, were wounded in Mianwali Colony.

The area police officer said that the incident appeared to be an outcome of some plot dispute among the relatives.

He added that two suspects identified as Noor Mohammed and Ibrahim were stated to be nephews of the victim.

The relatives had gathered to settle the plot dispute when a scuffle broke out between them, which degenerated into the murder. The suspects fled after firing.

The dead and the wounded were taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

The police officer added that the wounded persons were out of danger.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2020