Chakra Goth case: Police lose 2 suspects but get custody of Kamran Madhuri

Doctor says Madhuri has been in condition to give statement since beginning.

KARACHI:

The police suffered a setback in the Chakra Goth bus attack case when a judge released two of the three suspects on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence against them. The only good news was that they still have seven days to question the third man, notorious target killer, Kamran Madhuri.

Madhuri’s case has taken a few twists and turns to arrive at this point. He was brought injured to Jinnah hospital after an alleged police encounter at Chakra Goth on August 19. Three policemen were killed and at least 28 others, including DSP Syed Badar Ali Shah, were injured in the attack. Up till now, even though he was a strong suspect, Madhuri was not made part of the case - that is until the Chief Justice asked why the police had not nominated him. Now the police have sought and been granted remand by a judge of an anti-terrorism court. The request was granted on Wednesday.

SSP East Ahsan Umer denied that the police made the effort to get custody only when Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry asked about Madhuri. “The suspect was severely wounded and was being treated,” he said, adding that this was why they could not produce him before a judge.

At least one doctor disagrees. Madhuri, who is being treated for multiple wounds at Jinnah hospital, has always been in a condition to give a statement since the day he was brought in, said a senior doctor who did not wish to be named. “I can testify to this fact because from day one he has been misbehaving with us and screaming expletives and what not at us doctors and nurses.”

At the surgical ward compound at least 30 policemen with AK-47s have been posted to guard him. No visitor, including family, or the media are being allowed even near the compound. Only a couple of designated doctors have access.

Madhuri’s right hand has been amputated. He has a gunshot wound to the leg and one of his eyes has been damaged.

Police sources allege that Madhuri is a hardened militant of a major political party in Karachi and has committed murders in the city at its behest. According to his national identity card (No. 42201-0775780-9), his real name is Kamran Khan and he was born on March 22, 1980. His wife, infamously known as Babli, is also a wanted person and is said to be involved in several murder cases of her own. Babli, whose real name is Nighat Afsheen, remains a fugitive.

There were reports earlier in the day that Madhuri’s sister and nephew were picked up from the court premises where police had brought him in order to seek remand, but the SSP East denied that anyone has been secretly taken away by his men.

Two suspects

Zaman Town police had charged Mansoor, Nadeem Akhtar, Shahid, Asif, Furqan, Saghir, Iqbal, Aqeel, Shakir, Shahid Miller, Junaid, Raees, Saleem, Abdul Hakeem, Iqbal, Saleem and Atif and 15 to 16 other unidentified men with murder, attempt to murder, police encounter, rioting and terrorism in the Chakra Goth case.

However, Administrative Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court Justice Maqbool Baqar ordered the release of Hakim and Atif on Wednesday on the grounds of insufficient evidence provided by the police. Police alleged that Hakim and Atif were the main culprits who had opened fire on the private van transporting the Sindh Reserve Police, who had been summoned by the police in Korangi to stop a clash between two heavily armed groups, each backed by leading political parties.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2011.