Intizar's father blames another officer for his son's murder

Calls for including CIA DSP Amir Hameed in investigations

KARACHI: The Intizar murder case has taken a new turn after the father of the victim accused a senior officer of the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) of his involvement in his son's murder.

The new allegation by the father, Ishtiaq Ahmed, was made on Monday during the first meeting of the joint interrogation team (JIT) notified by the home department to investigate the police killing of 19-year-old Intizar Ahmed.

"Today [Monday], the first session of the JIT was held," Ishtiaq said. "We have conveyed our reservations to the JIT and now the ball is in the JIT's court," he added.

Ishtiaq claimed that CIA DSP Amir Hameed was a key suspect in his son's murder. "My son had a close friendship with a girl, Mahrukh Sohail, who is the niece of DSP Hameed," he said, adding that he believed that the family of the girl, especially DSP Hameed, was involved in the murder. The father called for including the DSP in the investigations.



Continuing with his new allegations, the father said former Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) chief Muquddus Haider, Madiha Kayani and others were part of the crime but DSP Hameed was directly involved in the murder. "No doubt, it was a preplanned murder and even the officials of the JIT have also admitted that," Ishtiaq said, adding that he might be wrong in accusing DSP Hameed but to him no other person had any reason to have his son killed.

The JIT officials have called the father on Friday to hold a second session.

The new JIT was notified by the provincial home department on February 12 when the old JIT's legality was questioned as it had not been formed by the competent authority. Investigations in the case were suspended as some members of the old JIT had refused to work. Finally, Ishtiaq called on Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and shared his concerns, after which the CM ordered the home department to notify a new JIT.

The new JIT is being headed by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi while South police chief DIG Azad Khan and one representative each from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Rangers and Sindh police's Special Branch are also its part.



"The JIT officials and representatives have also decided to include DSP Amir Hameed in the investigations," said one of the JIT members. "We have already recorded statements of the family and others but with this new saga of DSP Hameed, it seems that the case will now end soon."

Intizar, who had arrived from Malaysia where he was studying, was shot dead in Defence on January 13 by officials and personnel of the ACLC, a specialised unit of the Sindh police. Initially, the police termed the incident an act of targeted killing. However, it was later revealed that Intizar had been shot dead by an ACLC team that comprised at least nine members, including two inspector-ranked officers and two personal security guards of then ACLC chief SSP Haider. All nine cops were later arrested. SSP Haider was also removed from his post and was later included in the investigations following allegations made against him by Intizar's father.