Lyari doctor’s murder: ‘We will give details when the time is right’

Pakistan Medical Association says South African connection strong.

KARACHI: Investigators probing the murder of a Lyari ENT specialist believe an extortion mafia gang may be responsible but have said that details will only be revealed when the time is right.

Dr Imran Wasif, who worked at the Lyari General Hospital, was shot in Lea Market last month.

SP Khurram Waris, part of the Doctors Protection Cell, told The Express Tribune on Friday that investigations continue.

On February 12, the Pakistan Medical Association held a press conference, alleging that a group involved in extortion has been caught. This gang was threatening doctors working or living in Landhi, Korangi, Malir and Sohrab Goth and was asking for as much as one million rupees. Those who did not comply were being killed. PMA members also claimed that the gang had links in South Africa and somebody from there was organising these crimes.

“It is not an unusual thing to happen, believe me,” SP Waris said. “Somebody living outside Pakistan might be involved in making the threatening phone calls while other members of the group would be based in Karachi or other cities and would help by collecting the money.”

Investigators are looking into the possibility of a family dispute. “The problem is that nowadays, every murder is being called a target killing.” During the wave of tit-for-tat killings in the city, initiated by political parties, some people take advantage and get rid of someone they hold a grudge against and that murder is also counted as a target killing.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2011.