Daily Times

KARACHI: The prime witness in Intizar Ahmed murder case, Madiha Kayani has sought protection from the paramilitary force while the father of the victim was called by the Joint Interrogation Team’s (JIT) Sanaullah Abbasi on Wednesday.

“My life is in danger and now Rangers should give me protection,” she said in her video message. “Intizar had told me that his car is marked and his murder was targeted.”

“I am the only eye witness of the case,” said Madiha Kayani in a video message. “I have already been recorded my statement to the investigators.”

She further said that the man who opened fire on Intizar Ahmed had a moustache and she has identified him.

On the other hand, the father of the victim was called by Sanaullah Abbasi on Wednesday where the JIT chief informed the victim’s father who was accompanied by a lawyer about the ongoing progress over the case.

“Today’s meeting was held in connection with the follow-up details of the case,” victim’s father Ishtiaq Ahmed said. “A fourth session of the JIT will be held on Thursday, where all the JIT members will be presented.”

He said that the JIT members will brief him about the final updates over their investigations, especially about the possible involvement of the DSP Amir Hameed and his niece Mahrukh Sohail who are believed to be the prime suspects in the case. The victim’s father also has shown his reservation on the investigation officer of the case who is believed to be providing assistance to the police high ups.

“My son has been killed with proper planning and every police officer and personnel were the characters of the entire episode and all they should be punished accordingly to their role,” he said.

The provincial home department had formally constituted a JIT, to investigate the murder of Intizar in Karachi’s posh locality of Defence by personnel of the Sindh police’s Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC).

The JIT was formed last Monday following an order issued by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah after he met Intizar’s father, Ishtiaq Ahmed. Before the formation of the JIT on February 12, another JIT had been investigating the murder case for some time. However, some members of the team raised questions on the legality of the team, as it had not been formed by the home department, which has the legal authority to form JITs.

A new JIT is being headed by Abbasi while South police chief DIG Azad Khan and one representative each from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Rangers and Sindh police’s Special Branch are part of the JIT.

Nineteen-year-old Intizar, who had arrived from Malaysia where he was studying, was shot dead in Defence on January 13 by officials and personnel of the ACLC, a specialised unit of the Sindh police. Initially, the police termed the incident an act of targeted killing. However, it was later revealed that Intizar had been shot dead by an ACLC team that comprised at least nine members, including two inspector-ranked officers and two personal security guards of then ACLC chief SSP Muquddus Haider. All nine cops were later arrested and SSP Muquddus Haider was removed from his post. He was also included in the investigations following allegations made against him by Intizar’s father.

Initially, South Investigations SP Farooq Awan was appointed as the investigation officer (IO). However, the Sindh IG later appointed CTD DIG Amir Farooqui as the IO, who found that the ACLC cops were involved in the murder. DIG Farooqi also formed a JIT headed by CTD SSP Pervez Chandio.

Intizar was shot dead under mysterious circumstances by armed ACLC personnel when he didn’t stop his car after being signalled by them in Khayaban-i-Bukhari.

Published in Daily Times, March 1^st 2018.