HYDERABAD, June 1: Investigation of encounter case that led to death of neurosurgeon Prof. Aftab Qureshi has been transferred to Crime Branch of Hyderabad under the directives of Sindh police chief on Thursday.
The case would now be looked after by DSP Abdullah Unnar, who has recently been posted in crime branch. Two crime branch officials Malik Qasim and Aftab Abbasi would assist him.
According to sources, the case papers and evidence gathered by the district police have been handed over to the Crime Branch. Crime Branch is headed by a DIG Farhat Junejo with SSP Irfan Mukhtar Bhutto, who is also holding additionalcharge of principal staff officer to home minister.
Since investigation of this high profile case is transferred now, Crime Branch would take a decision whether to go for a judicial probe as desired by Hyderabad DIG Sanaullah Abbasi as per relevant police rules.
Doctors and senior police officials have been questioning the encounter. They maintain that it lacked required strategy and was mishandled by a joint Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), headed by Ahmed Chinoy and Anti Violent Crime Unit (AVCU) led by SP Noorul Haq Rind with the result that it yielded nothing. Before Rind (previously SP headquarter Hyderabad), AVCU was headed by Ghulam Subhani Khunawro.
“Since it was a high-profile kidnapping case, CPLC and AVCU didn’t share their strategy with us [Hyderabad police] apparently to claim credit for recovery of the hostage [neurosurgeon].
“When they got an important clue i.e. hideout of dacoit they got excited and kept the information secret. But the encounter went awry and they got nothing but bodies of neurosurgeon, an AVCU ASI besides a dacoit”, said a senior police officer who wished not be named.
SSP Hyderabad Haseeb Afzal Beg has already stated it on record that he was not consulted or taken on board by CPLC chief Ahmed Chinoy prior to the encounter.
His strong rebuttal came in response to Chinoy’s claim that Hyderabad police was on board regarding encounter.
“Had we been on board we would have been there with proper force and taken extra care to ensure safe recovery of the neurosurgeon”, SSP Beg added.
SSP Hyderabad on Friday confirmed that investigation of case had been transferred to Crime Branch under IGP Sindh’s directives. “We got a letter from DIG Headquarters that case’s investigation should be handed over to Crime Branch”, hesaid.
He also confirmed that he didn’t file any application before sessions judge Hyderabad to seek a judicial probe in the light transfer of investigation.
Hyderabad police had collected forensic and ballistic evidence besides DNA sample of Akhtar Siyal. They have been handed over to Crime Branch along with statements of Dr. Ashok Kumar and his mother Kamla. Police sources said that two otheraccomplices of dead dacoit have been identified who are involved in kidnapping of Professor Qureshi. They are Yunus Siyal — brother of Akhtar Siyal and Dr. Dawood.
Hyderabad police have serious doubts about statements of Dr Ashok and his mother as they are claiming that they were themselves hostages of dacoits.
“But I have serious doubts about Ashok’s statement. If he was really a hostage why was he having a free movement in and outside hideout [house] for almost 25 days why wasn’t he kept in chain like surgeon”, said SSP. He said that no case regarding kidnapping of Ashok and his mother is registered in Karachi which makes things doubtful.
Therefore, he added, it’s a good decision that Crime Branch would probe the case as it has got seasoned and matured police officers who have expertise in detecting cases. “Now they will decide whether to go for a judicial probe of the case too, “heremarked.
It was learnt that police also believed that house which was owned by one Mr Noonari was actually rented out to Ashok around a month ago. The house was recently built in Abdullah Valley.
Bhittai Nagar police have lodged as case vide crime no 76/12 on Thursday on complaint of inspector AVCU Waseem Siddiqui under sections 302, 324, 353 of Pakistan Penal Code and 617 of Anti-Terrorism Act. Custody of Ashok Kumar and Kamla Devi has reportedly been handed over to Crime Branch.