Sindh police arrest prime suspect in Sehwan bombing

The incident had resulted in the loss of 82 lives and 383 people were injured

KARACHI: Malir district police claimed to have arrested on Wednesday two accused including the primary suspect in the Sehwan bomb blast incident.

In a press conference at his office, East DIG Amir Farooqi said that the arrests were made through the joint efforts of Malir district police and federal intelligence agencies.

Accused, Furqan alias Abdullah and Ali Akbar alias Haji, were arrested during a raid in Gadap Town. Two hand grenades, two 9mm pistols and bullets were seized from their possession.

According to the DIG, Furqan is a commander of the armed wing of the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and is wanted by the police in several cases of terrorism.

Alleged confession

DIG Farooqi said that the accused had confessed to his involvement in the February 16, 2017, suicide attack at the Sehwan Sharif tomb. The incident had resulted in the loss of 82 lives, while another 383 people were injured.



According to Farooqi, Furqan had revealed that the attack on the tomb was planned by Mufti Hidayatullah. He further named Dr Mustafa, Noman, Maqbool and himself as perpetrators who prepared a young man, Muhammad Usman, to carry out the suicide attack.

The perpetrators conducted reconnaissance of the site and left Usman near the tomb in time to carry out the attack.

After Usman had exploded the bomb, killing himself and numerous innocent victims, Furqan escaped from Sehwan Sharif and fled to another part of Sindh.

Furqan allegedly also confessed to his involvement in a suicide attack on a police van parked near a polling station on July 25, 2018. This attack was carried out to avenge the killing of Mufti Hidayatullah in Qilat by security forces, said the accused.

Other cases

According to police, Furqan killed four men by opening fire at a taxi on Pasni Road, Quetta, on June 4, 2018. The four men belonged to the Hazara ethnic group. Furqan was also allegedly responsible for the murders of three Christians on whom he opened fire at Arbab Road, Quetta on April 2, 2018.

Moreover, on June 11, 2017, Furqan killed three police officials in an attack on Saryab Road, Quetta. He was also involved in the murder of tailor in the same area. Besides, he killed two men by opening fire at a curtain shop in Hazara Town, a prayer leader through indiscriminate firing at Arif Street, Quetta, and two traffic police officials, Mehmood and Rashid, at Saryab Road, Quetta.

Wanted suspect

Farooqi informed that the other accused, Ali Akbar, also belonged to the banned outfit Lashar-e-Jhangvi and two sons-in-law of the accused had earlier been killed by security forces.

According to police, Akbar, along with his accomplices kidnapped a trader, Abid Sohail, from Tipu Sultan Road and demanded Rs350 million as ransom.



When the ransom was not received, Akbar killed the trader and buried him in the basement of a house in Manghopir. The body was later recovered by the police and handed over to the family.

Akbar was reportedly also involved in the kidnapping of another trader, Raheel, from Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Raheel was released after a ransom of Rs10m was paid.

Cases have also been registered against the accused in Balochistan and Balochistan police have been informed about the arrest, said the DIG.

Responding to a question, the DIG told the media that investigations relating to the recent murder of Muhammad Ali in Ferozabad are underway. The deceased had conflicts over business properties, said the DIG.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2019.