Sole eyewitness in Intizar Ahmed murder case seeks Rangers’ protection

Madiha Kayani releases video, claims she has identified man who opened fire on 19-year-old Intizar

KARACHI:

The only eyewitness to 19-year-old Intizar Ahmed’s murder, Madiha Kayani, has sought protection from the Rangers.

"I am the only eyewitness in the case," said Kayani in a video message. "I have already recorded my statement to the investigators." She went on to say that the man who opened fire on Initizar had a moustache and she had identified him.

"My life is in danger and now the Rangers should give me protection," she said in the video. "Intizar had told me that his car was marked. His murder was a targeted killing," she alleged.

Separately, the father of the victim was summoned on Wednesday by the Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) head, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional IG Sanaullah Abbasi, where he was told about the progress in the case.



"Today's meeting was held in connection with the follow up details of the case," the victim's father, Ishtiaq Ahmed said. "A fourth session of the JIT is to be held tomorrow [Thursday] where all the JIT members will be present." Ishtiaq said that the JIT members will brief him about the final updates of their investigations, especially about the possible involvement of DSP Amir Hameed and his niece Mahrukh Sohail.

The victim's father has expressed his reservations on the capabilities of the investigation officer, who he believes is helping the police officers involved in the case. "My son was killed after proper planning and every police officer and personnel were characters in the episode and they should all be punished,” he alleged.

The provincial home department had formally constituted JIT to investigate Intizar’s murder by personnel of the Sindh police’s Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) in Defence on January 13.  The JIT was formed last Monday following an order by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah after he met Ishtiaq. Before the formation of the JIT on February 12, another JIT had been investigating the murder. However, some members of the team raised questions on its legality as it had not been formed by the home department, which has the legal authority to form JITs.



The new JIT is being headed by AIG 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 members.

Nineteen-year-old 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 Muquddus Haider. All nine cops were later arrested and SSP Haider was removed from his post.

SSP Haider was also included in the investigations following allegations made against him by Intizar’s father.

Initially, South Investigations SP Farooq Awan was appointed the investigation officer. However, the Sindh IG later appointed CTD DIG Amir Farooqui as the IO, who found that the ACLC cops were involved in the murder. DIG Farooqi also formed a JIT headed by CTD SSP Pervez Chandio.