Shahzeb’s murder: Chief justice’s ultimatum works, police track down key suspect

Nawab Siraj Talpur, brother apprehended in interior Sindh; Shahrukh Jatoi still at large.

KARACHI:

Barely 24 hours after Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued an ultimatum to Sindh police, law enforcers made headway in the Shahzeb Khan murder case with the arrest of two key suspects.

Nawab Siraj Talpur, one of the key suspects implicated in Shahzeb’s December 25 slaying in Karachi’s Defence locality, was arrested from Naushehro Feroze district, Sindh on Saturday.

Siraj was on his way to Moro tehsil, along with his brother Sajjad Talpur, when the police arrested them on the Dadu-Moro bridge.

“We were tipped off that he was travelling from Dadu to Naushehro Feroze in a car,” SSP Tariq Dharejo said. Talpur was then handed over to the Karachi police team which is leading the investigation and raids. SSP Dharejo, however, did not disclose the source which led to Talpur’s arrest.

Prior to his arrest, law enforcement personnel also raided Shahani Mohalla in Dadu and some villages in Mehar tehsil. According to police sources, Imdad, a friend of Talpur and Ghulam Mustafa Lashari, a servant, were also nabbed.

It took the police about a day to nab Talpur after Chief Justice Chaudhry issued a stern warning on Friday to the inspector-general police (IGP) Sindh and other senior police officials to apprehend the suspects or “lose their jobs.”

Shahrukh Jatoi still at large

However, Shahrukh Jatoi, the other key suspect, is still at large. The police haven’t been able to trace his whereabouts.

A copy of Jatoi’s passport obtained by the media has once again created uncertainty about whether he is in the country or has fled to the United Arab Emirates. It indicates that he flew to the UAE two days after Shahzeb’s murder. The claim has unsettled officials at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

There is no record of Jatoi flying out from Karachi or any other airport in the country, while airline records also suggest that he did not make the trip.

According to FIA records, two passports were issued to Shahrukh Jatoi and they have already been cancelled. Similarly, Siraj Talpur also had two passports.



“The passport that is being aired in the media is not in any records, which means it is fake,” FIA director for Sindh, Abdul Malik, told The Express Tribune. “Legally, it is 100% confirmed that Shahrukh hasn’t flown out on any passport.”

SSP Investigations Faizullah Karejo told The Express Tribune that it was impossible for Jatoi to have fled the country as his passports had already been cancelled. His name has also been placed on the Exit Control List.

Police recover vehicle

Karachi police on Saturday also recovered the Toyota Prado that was allegedly used in Shahzeb’s murder. The white-coloured vehicle is owned by Jatoi’s friend Asif Lund.

It was recovered during a police raid at Asif’s residence in Defence locality’s Khayaban-e-Badar. Police detained his two brothers, Arif Lund and Waqar Lund and also impounded Prado.

However, Asif was not present at the scene. DSP Waseem Khawaja confirmed the arrest of Asif’s brothers. Investigators said that Asif and two of his companions, who managed to escape to the UAE along with him, were also present along with Jatoi at the time of the killing.

More suspects arrested

A police team from Karachi also raided a place in Moro and arrested Anees Jatoi, who is said to be the son of a former director of the information ministry, N D Jatoi.

The raids carried out in Naushehro Feroze saw police arrest Ghulam Murtaza Talpur and another person, whose name was not ascertained immediately. Despite repeated attempts, SSP Dadu Usman Ghani could not be reached for comment.

Progress report filed to SC

Inspector-General Police (IGP) Sindh, Fayyaz Leghari, on Saturday filed his progress report in Shahzeb’s murder case with the Supreme Court’s Karachi registry.

In his supplementary report, Leghari said three of the accused – Nawab Siraj Talpur, his brother Nawab Sajjad Talpur, Ghulam Murtaza and a facilitator Nawab Imdad Talpur – have been tracked down in raids conducted in Moro.

Ghulam Murtaza, a cook, and Nawab Imdad, father of the Talpur brothers, were accused of facilitating the murder.

He said in his report that “extensive efforts are being made to locate and arrest Shahrukh Jatoi.”

The police chief said three other persons – Sadaruddin, Sohrab Khan and Sain Dino Khaskheli – were also taken into custody. (with additional reporting by SARFARAZ MEMON and Z ALI in Sukkur and Hyderabad)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.