Alleged assassin admits involvement in 51 murders, including AWSJ leader

Syed Israr, arrested by CTD, says he did recce for attack on ASWJ leader

KARACHI: An alleged assassin has admitted conducting reconnaissance of 54 people - including Ahle-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (AWSJ) leader Aurangzeb Farooqi - 51 of whom were brutally murdered, revealed a joint investigation team (JIT) report available with the Daily Express.

Arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), the suspect identified as Syed Israr alias Nisar alias Rehman alias Chacha belongs to a proscribed religious organisation.



According to the CTD, Israr worked in a Karachi organisation as a labourer till 2004 when he joined the proscribed outfit's recce team headed by target killer Muhammad Ali alias Aamir alias Bhai. Israr revealed that he had been given the special task of shadowing the ASWJ leader Farooqi and was provided a dwelling close to Farooqi's house in Karachi. He said he was provided with a cart to sell onions as a foil to keep an eye on Farooqi, the JIT report reveals.

He said Farooqi was attacked for the last time on the basis of information provided by him.



Israr claimed that apart from Ali, the target killers' team included Shiraz Rizvi alias Hussain, Pervez alias Ramzan and Mumtaz Bhutto alias Nasir. He said this team used to recce the businesses and workplaces of people to plan their killing.

He claimed that he had received a salary for this assignment and was promised a CNG rickshaw for the successful recce and killing of Farooqi. The suspect hails from Layyah, Punjab and has a wife, daughter and three sons.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2016.