Targeted attack: No breakthrough in Maulana Masood case despite CCTV footage

This was the second high-profile killing of the week.

KARACHI:

It's been two days since the principal of Jamia Binoria International, Maulana Masood Baig, was shot dead and so far the police have no leads on the case.

The 38-year-old, who was also Mufti Muhammad Naeem's son-in-law, was gunned down by unidentified men in Hyderi on Wednesday - three days after the son of Allama Abbas Kumaili, chief of the Jaffaria Alliance Pakistan was killed.

Baig was the administrator of the Jamia Binoria International women's wing and school. He had a PhD in Islamic Studies from the Karachi University (KU). He was also a visiting faculty member at the Islamic Learning Department at KU.

On Wednesday, Baig was on his way to pick his children up from their school near KDA Chowrangi when four unidentified armed men on two motorcycles opened fire at him.

According to witnesses, at least four armed motorcyclists intercepted his car and opened fire at him. "The assailants, who had been following him for some time, targeted him when he slowed down to take a U-turn towards the school," said one witness. "The assailants fired at his car from the left side. They stayed and waited at the spot to confirm that he breathed his last."

He was shot at least four times with a 9mm pistol and died on the spot. The body was first taken to Ziauddin Hospital and later shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy. "He was shot twice in the chest and once each in the head and arm," said a medico-legal officer.

The victim's father-in-law, who is also chancellor of the Jamia Binoria International, Mufti Muhammad Naeem, criticised the law enforcement agencies over their failure in maintaining law and order in the city. "The complete failure of law enforcement agencies and justice system is dragging the city towards civil war," he said.

A case was registered with the police on a complaint by Maulana Abdul Hameed of the Jamia Binoria International against four men. The FIR, no. 165/14, was lodged late Thursday night at the Hyderi police station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code which deals with murder and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The police have been unable to make any breakthrough in the case despite having access to CCTV footage as there were cameras installed near the crime scene.

"The CCTV footage could prove to be helpful in identifying the assailants," said the new SHO of the Hyderi police station, Abid Shah. "There have been some complications in obtaining the footage from the school as some had no recording system or had some fault in their DVR systems." He added that there was a delay in registering the case as the family was busy with funeral and burial preparations.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2014.