Pakistan

Shahbaz Bhatti’s murder case : Police make another arrest

The suspect called a minorities’ lawmaker and said he knew Bhatti’s assassins.

Mudassir Raja June 23, 2011

RAWALPINDI:

Islamabad Police have arrested a man suspected to be involved in the killing of former federal minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti.

The police are interrogating the suspect, who was traced through his cell phone.

The suspect Hafiz Nazar Muhammad was arrested by the police on June 19, and booked at the I-9 police station, under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

I-9 industrial area’s police on Monday obtained a five-day physical remand of the suspect from an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi.

The police said they wanted to interrogate him about his accomplices.

The investigators informed the court that Nazar had called a minorities’ lawmaker from Sargohda Tahir Nazeer Chaudhry and claimed he knew Bhatti’s assassins.

The MPA informed the police who subsequently tracked Nazar down.

A detailed investigation was conducted before arresting Nazar, who is believed to have been working with Bhatti for the past 10 years.

Police sources also claim that the accused pretended to be a Christian pastor and had a personal grudge against the minister.

The police would produce the suspect on June 25 for further investigations.

No witnesses or evidence has yet been presented to prove that Nazar was involved in the killing, sources add.

Bhatti, the only Christian in the federal cabinet, was killed in Islamabad on March 2 this year by three unidentified gunmen.

The killers, reportedly belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, left a note stating they had killed Bhatti for raising his voice against the blasphemy laws.

Earlier, Bhatti had voiced his fears that he believed he would be “the next target” following the assassination of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer for speaking out against the blasphemy law.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (19)

Babar Samie | 12 years ago | Reply This is not a complete report about the arresst. In another report in Daily Jang, the suspect told the police that three killers came from Dubai and after killing they went to Sri Lanka and from there, they went to Dubai. He said that they belong to Sipah-e- Sahaba. The police was not present to protect the Minister despite of the threat from extremist. That was the evidence of unholy alliance of the extremists and security forces. All the discriminatory laws like Blasphemy Law and Hadood Ordinance should be repealed to protect the minorities and women.

Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply I am sick and tired of people who are so filled with hatred that they just want to back the terrorists/Fundamentalists any way they can. Why?? because they themselves have hatred for anything that is different. This is not a religious feeling. It is a tribal feeling existing in FATA and backward villages of Pakistan and people who supported Jamatt-e-Islami in college or later on in life. Sunnis having these hatred are muslims for only 1400 years or less. They have been hateful tribals for 4000 to 5000 years. They do not act as muslims but hateful tribals. They are no different than African tribals Hutus and Tutsis. For Hutus, Tutsis are Indians and vice versa. Most of you bloggers are so hateful to Indians and other nations. Develop a global vision. become a part of a global village. Stop the hate. Learn math and science. The Universe is 14 billion years old. Humans are at the most 3 million. They developed larger brains just 30,000 to 40,000 years back in Africa when they learned how to catch fish and get Omega 3 oils and good proteins. They developed language only around 10,000 years. They developed a printing press only 500 years back and that more than anything changed the world as it brought the cost of books lower and allowed universities in Europe to share reserach. If catholics and protestents can live together. Why can't Muslism and every one else. Spend money on children's education. Stop procreating like stiupid Osama and his evil father. Spend time with your daugthesr and give them good education. Stop marrying them at early ages. Treat them like humans and they can teach young boys to be more family oriented and be more tolerant to others.

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Basharat | 12 years ago | Reply Almost all the accused persons arrested for terrorist acts have been acquitted due to " lack of reliable evidence" , this gentleman may be treated likewise . An accused , as reported in the yesterday´s news papers , has been awarded death sentence for the alleged plasphemy offence.

Mirza | 12 years ago | Reply "The killers, reportedly belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, left a note stating they had killed Bhatti for raising his voice against the blasphemy laws." Our most honest institution Police is making this a "personal grudge" to please the Islamist terrorists. They would shower Qadri with roses, and ignore the note left by the murderers of Bhatti. The only Christian member of cabinet who criticized blasphamy laws who was number one target of extremists is killed by a mullah for personal grudge! Why the "good honest and truthful Muslims are not outraged, just like they were for OBL's murder? Why are they defensive? They should have come out in the streets to condemn this brutal murder, there was no Dharna for this innocent victim.

Romm | 12 years ago | Reply one thing I am sure about that if it is personal Grudge and assassin is not from TTP, he shall be convicted. This wud be first conviction by an ATC. Will be good for conviction statistics.

AQ | 12 years ago | Reply Are you talking about yourself.@Amer:

Bangash | 12 years ago | Reply Sounds like some phony arrest to placate those demanding justice for Shahbaz Bhatti murder by Maulvis.

Fortune Cookie | 12 years ago | Reply The man is a suspect. Here we go again, finding the person guilty without him being charged. Shame!!!!!!!!!!

AnisAqeel | 12 years ago | Reply @Amer: How can it be Islam bashing! A criminal is caught and if molvis are involved they are liable for severer punishment. These religious fanatics you are mentioning are trying to enforce their own version of Islam that does not represent peace, the real meaning of Islam. They damaged the cause of Pakistan before it's inception and destroying Pakistan after it's creation. Aren't these fanatics snakes in the sleeves?

Jameel | 12 years ago | Reply @Frank:

So it was a personal grudge not a religiously motivated murder.

It was a religiously motivated murder alright. Even leaflets to that effect were left by murderers at the spot. Of course the government will try to play the religious factor down as it always does hoping that it would fool the world.

Jameel | 12 years ago | Reply @YellowDemon:

Personal Grudge and not for religious reasons ? What will Mullah bashing brigade say if it is proven it was done due to personal grudge ?

Personal grudge due to Bhatti's religious affiliation. Not at all uncommon in Pakistan. Tell anyone you are Christian, Ahmadi or Hindu and see how they behave. Even your previously best friends would suddenly develop a grudge.

paris air show | 12 years ago | Reply hope journalists will be safe children save from fool maulvis and taliban children should know taliban is enemy of god as in children there is god and taliban use children as bombers disgusting mind relax meditate

YellowDemon | 12 years ago | Reply Personal Grudge and not for religious reasons ? What will Mullah bashing brigade say if it is proven it was done due to personal grudge ?

nabeel | 12 years ago | Reply @Feroz: yes sure

Adeel | 12 years ago | Reply ...only to be released by courts courtesy lack of evidence

Feroz | 12 years ago | Reply The government should be collecting evidence to successfully prosecute the culprits and get them convicted from the courts. Simply arresting people based on tips is unprofessional.

Frank | 12 years ago | Reply So it was a personal grudge not a religiously motivated murder. Are all those American writers spewing venom against Pakistan day in day out going to apologize now? Will the self-hating Pakistani Burger boys and girls who start self-flagellating at the slightest provocation going to learn a little bit of restraint now?

Amer | 12 years ago | Reply Ready! Getset! GO! Let the Molvi & Islam bashing begin on these pages!

Hammad Ali | 12 years ago | Reply Great work ! He should be given strict punishment and an example should be made so that no body in future dare to target minorities. Our religion Islam ensures protection to all the citizens of an Islamic state.

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