KARACHI, Aug 6: The killing of Khalid Shahanshah, the chief security officer of Bilawal House, appears to be linked to an underworld rivalry rather than the fact that Mr Shahanshah was a witness in the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto, it has been learnt.

Background interviews conducted with several police officers suggest that the July 22 killing was motivated by a conflict of interests and high stakes in the city’s illicit gambling business.

Shahanshah was gunned down outside his house in the Defence Housing Authority by unknown gunmen travelling in a white Mehran bearing green registration plates. The vehicle was found abandoned the same evening from the DHA.

The only person who could be considered a suspect and could possibly have provided background information about Shahanshah’s killing was recently taken away from the custody of a ‘special cell’ created in the Mauripur police station. “Two senior police officers came and took away ASI Waseem with them,” disclosed an officer.

“ASI Waseem has a notorious profile. He is posted in the Anti-Violent Crime Cell and is said to maintain good links with a person called Aijaz, better known as Aijaz Ghansmandi-wala,” revealed a source.

“Till recently, Aijaz used to run the city’s biggest rummy club in Ghansmandi, within the limits of the Risala police station,” a source said. Following the death of Shoaib Khan, Aijaz’s business started to thrive, capturing the entire city’s rummy business.

Apart from the Ghansmandi club, Saifullah’s club in Nazimabad was the second such major racket working in the city.

Recalling the deceased’s background, a senior police officer said that at one time, Mr Shahanshah was an associate of Shoaib Khan, but he later parted ways with him and went to the United States.

Last year, Khaild Shahanshah staged a comeback and obtained a licence to open the a rummy club near the Hockey Stadium, sources said.

However, it didn’t perform up to expectations, with all the business going to the Ghansmandi and Saifullah clubs, the source added.

Moreover, being in close proximity of the Askari Apartments, residents complained to the army authorities and subsequently, the club was forced to close down.

Prior to the closure of the Hockey Stadium club, the two other clubs operating in the city were asked to close down by certain influential figures in the government.

Saifullah’s club reached an understanding with certain demands, but similar results could not be achieved with the Ghansmandi Club, sources said.

Though it is not known whether it was by coincidence or pre-planned, Aijaz was arrested by DSP Rao Anwar and inspector Nasirul Hasan from Sharea Faisal on his way to perform Umra. Interestingly, several kilogrammes of charas and an AK-47 rifle were recovered from his possession. Aijaz was arrested and an FIR was registered at the Mauripur police station under Section 9-C of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997.

After being sent to jail custody, it was made sure he faced a tough time in confinement and was kept in the ‘Bandh Ward,’ sources said.

A well-placed police officer requesting anonymity told Dawn that three days before the killing of Khalid Shahanshah, some people went to visit Aijaz in jail, including Shahanshah and ASI Waseem, reportedly to chalk out some sort of deal.

Sources suggest a deal was struck during the meeting, though the modalities are not known.

However, it has been learnt that to undo Section 9-C, it was decided that the several kilos of charas recovered from Aijaz’s possession, which at that time was not sent for chemical examination, would be shown as mehndhi, or henna, the sources said.

It may be pertinent to mention that a few days back the SHO Defence, on the instructions of a senior police officer, raided the den of a notorious bookie, Hanif Suzuki, and arrested his employees, showing him as an absconder. Later, the same SHO was suspended.