JIT records statements in Intizar murder case

Father demands CCTV footage be made public

KARACHI: A day after its formation, the joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe the killing of Intizar Ahmed recorded on Friday statements of people involved in the case.

Those whose statements were recorded included the victim's father Ishtiaq Ahmed, key eyewitness Madiha Kayani, former Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) chief SSP Muqaddas Haider whose two guards are accused of firing at Intizar and arrested ACLC cops.

The JIT was formed on Thursday with Counter-Terrorism Department Intelligence SSP Pervez Chandio as its head. The team includes representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Special Branch, Sindh Rangers and Karachi police.

The decision to form a JIT was made after controversy arose when the family accused SSP Haider of being involved in the murder. Following their demand, the case was earlier transferred from South Investigations SP Farooq Awan to CTD DIG Amir Farooqi.



A senior official privy to the matter said the JIT would review the postmortem and forensic reports during its second session today (Saturday) and would also visit the crime scene. The official added that the JIT would inquire into the alleged involvement of SSP Haider and Kayani in the case as demanded by Intizar's father.

The officer informed The Express Tribune that SSP Haider, in his statement, denied his involvement in the killing while Kayani was interrogated by the JIT officials for 25 minutes.

It has been also learnt that the 10-minute-long closed-circuit television footage of the incident was also shown to the victim's father. Ishtiaq reportedly expressed his reservations in front of the JIT and also demanded that the footage be made public.

Talking to the media, Intizar's father said Kayani first alighted from the car and then returned. He questioned what the reason behind her leaving the car and then returning was. The father also complained that one cop was given an advantage in getting bail and his full name and designation was not mentioned in the FIR.



The cops were under the command of their SSP, therefore he was also responsible for the incident, the father said, adding that the family was not satisfied with the previous investigation. He expressed hope that the JIT would conduct a fair and transparent investigation.

"I have mentioned my points and reservations in front of the JIT after watching the CCTV footage. Madiha Kayani's role is important," he said, adding that "the hidden facts behind Intizar's killing should be released publically".

Ishtiaq maintained that the family did not want to involve any innocent person in the investigations. He also claimed that he did not know of any other girl's involvement in the case.