KARACHI: Police on Sunday claimed to have achieved a ‘breakthrough’ in the investigation of the targeted killing of the brother and nephew of PTI dissident MPA Aslam Abro, saying the duo were gunned down in “revenge for three killings over a property dispute back in 2019”.

They said that the double murder was allegedly carried out by an influential tribesman of Balochistan and efforts were under way to arrest him and his accomplices.

Akram Abro and his son Shaharyar were gunned down and two others wounded in a targeted attack in DHA Phase-VII of by around five-six gunmen travelling in a car and a motorcycle.

“The targeted killing case of Mir Akram Abro has been traced,” said a police official.

The official claimed that one Zubair Shahwani, a resident of Quetta, came to Karachi on July 24 from Wadh, Khuzdar.

Investigators identify Zubair Shahwani as prime suspect

“He borrowed a silver Premio car from his friend Qutub in DHA and then after executing the job, fl ed to Quetta.” The offi cer said that Zubair Shahwani’s nephew Asif Shahwani along with two other people was gunned down in Gulshan-i-Maymar allegedly at the behest of MPA Aslam Abro over a property dispute in 2019. “Zubair Shahwani in revenge killed Akram Abro and his son in the city. Zubair has also announced through social media that he has taken the revenge.” He is a son-in-law of a sitting MPA of Balochistan, the offi cer added.

South-DIG Irfan Ali Baloch told Dawn that prior to the alleged claiming of responsibility for the murder by Shahwani on social media, the police investigators had ‘confirmed’ his involvement with the help of technology.

The DIG, who is leading a team of investigators, said Zubair Shahwani was the main accused and efforts were under way to arrest him and other suspects involved in the double murder.

Another member of the probe team, South-SSP Syed Asad Raza said that they had completed technical data and analysis.

He said the main accused Zubair Shahwani came to Karachi from Balochistan three days prior to the double murder and stayed at his residence located in Nishat Commercial in DHA.

“They came to the city in a white Vigo and carried out reconnaissance of the Abros.” SSP Raza said they had footage obtained from 25 closed-circuit cameras, which showed that when Akram Abro along with his son and four others came out from their residence on Khayaban-i- Shamsheer, two suspects riding a motorbike chased them who also informed their accomplices travelling in a car through cell phone.

The officer said after carrying out the double murder, the alleged killers came to their residence in DHA and left the place.

The police have conducted a raid on residence of Shahwani in DHA, and recovered “some things and videos as well” that also “showed that he had committed the crime”.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2023