'Aide clues led police to suspect'

Published October 22, 2004

TOBA TEK SINGH, Oct 21: Irfan Ali, the alleged brain behind the car bomb blast in Multan that took place on Oct 7, had been arrested on the clues given to police by his right-hand man Amjad Ali Shah. Amjad was captured by Bhakkar police almost a week ago.

Information gleaned by this correspondent revealed that Amjad, who is charged with involvement in sectarian violence, had hired a house at Islampura where he had been living along with his wife Farah Perveen for the last seven months. The house was hired through local lawyer Rana Fida Husain from the wife of Munir Ahmad Butt, a citizen of Saudi Arabia.

Amjad resided in the upper storey of the house whose entrance was not known to people. He informed the landlord that he dealt in poultry feed and medicine.

He disappeared from the house on first of Ramazan and was arrested in Bhakkar. The police recovered a computer, two cellular phone chips, documents and a motorcycle from his residence.

Bhakkar police reportedly handed over Amjad to Haram Gate police station in Multan where he disgorged the whereabouts of Irfan, a resident of Naushera Virkan in Gujranwala.

The Multan police are also interrogating Rana Fida, who had been asked to arrange house on a rent for Amjad by his friend in Faisalabad.

GUJRANWALA: Irfan was a resident of Naushera Virkan, who was an under-matric. His father Syed Dilber Husain Shah was brick kiln owner, who died four years ago.

Sources said one of his brothers, Rizwan Shah, was in France while another Saqlain Shah was running a PCO.

Irfan settled in Islamabad along with his family seven years ago, but his other relatives were still residing at Naushera Virkan. His family back in Gujranwala is learnt to have disappeared after the arrest of Irfan.

It is pertinent to recall that the main suspect in Sheikhupura imambargah blast also was arrested at Naushera Virkan.

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