Caught: Two killers responsible for about 17 deaths between them, arrested

The CIA and Clifton police announced their arrest on Tuesday.

KARACHI: A target killer accused of over half a dozen murders was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA), formerly known as the Special Investigation Unit.

On Tuesday, the agency officially announced the arrest of 25-year-old Mohammad Yamin. The suspect, said to be affiliated with a political party, was taken into custody during a raid in Sector 5-E, New Karachi, Bilal Colony police limits on September 29 but the arrest was not confirmed at the time.

The CIA however, claimed that this was a fresh arrest made the same day. “We have arrested a lot of suspects so the there were some misunderstandings,” said CIA inspector Ejaz Butt. “This arrest was made today only.”

The officer claimed that the suspect confessed to having killed at least seven Sunni Tehreek activists and supporters in parts of New Karachi. During interrogation, he told the authorities that his victims included Rana Aqeel, Rizwan Qadri, Asad, Aftab Qadri, Taimoor and a woman, Qamar Jahan. He also confessed to having set a dumper truck on fire following Zulfiqar Mirza’s statements at the press club. Inspector Butt also said that they are searching for about six of Yamin’s companions including Faisal Chamcham, Faisal Kallu and Hussain Kala.

Separately, Clifton police claim to have apprehended a suspect, Haseeb Akbar, in another raid. Akbar is accused of being involved in seven target killing cases during a raid in Khayaban-e-Tanzeem.

SHO Shafiq Tanoli told The Express Tribune that they picked him up while he was visiting his companion who managed to escape before the police arrived. They seized a seven millimetre rifle, a repeater gun and three TT pistols from him.

The officer said that the suspect used to live in Surjani and is affiliated with a political party. He has confessed to having killed at least ten people in the North Karachi and Surjani areas. His victims include Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi and Awami National Party activists along with some innocent Pakhtuns.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2011.