PHOTO: Reuters
'Well acquainted'
The video statement implicated Sharifabad SHO and intelligence officer (IO), Shaheen, and intelligence officer Abbas, deputed at the same police station. According to Asadullah's claims, IO Abbas would provide the target killer copies of the FIR of any case that Asadullah was sent to inquire about. Moreover, MQM's unit and sector in-charge would arrange meetings of Asadullah with any new SHO deployed at the police station, said Asadullah.
Of bribes and cattle
Asadullah confessed to organising cattle markets within the limits of Sharifabad and Gulberg Police Stations till 2013. For this, he said, he was paid between Rs400,000 to Rs500,000 each month. According to Asadullah, the challan for organising the market would be deposited with the town authorities. Town in-charge Osama Qadri would give the go-ahead for the market and the bribe money would be given to officials deputed at Azizabad and Gulberg Police Stations, he said, adding that the bribe money would be given to Head Moharrars, Noman, Muzammil, and Nadeem, while each new Head Moharrar would also ask for bribe money.
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Riots, kidnappings, killings
Asadullah stated that on May 12, he was assigned the duty of blocking the bridge in Liaquatabad No.10 and preventing the opposing rally from advancing further. He and his accomplices were provided weapons for this purpose by the sector in-charge.
The alleged target killer confessed to having been involved in the kidnapping of three persons who used to sell utensils in Sharifabad. The three persons were taken to Gharibabad Nursery where they were joined by Unit In-charge Aftab, recounted Asadullah. "After speaking with someone over the phone, Aftab gave orders for the three persons to be killed. The kidnapped persons were taken behind Gharibabad. Kashif, Adeel and Sharjeel were there while I was present at some distance on a motorcycle as back up," said Asadullah. "I heard shots being fired and chaos ensued. I found out Kashif had been hit by a bullet. Kashif was taken to Sindh Government Hospital and I accompanied him till there but then there was a sudden raid by the Rangers and Kashif was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital," he stated.
Recounting another incident, Asadullah said that Adil Zafar, Siddiqui, and others kidnapped three persons from Ibrahim Hotel and locked them up in a shop in Azam Square area. "A party worker, Adnan Jaanu, was assigned duty to provide cover. We took them behind the building and shot them dead. The bodies were then stuffed in gunny sacks, which were disposed of," he said.
"I opened fire at citizen, Farhan, while the second bullet [at Farhan] was fired by Adil. The other two persons were shot at by Adil Zafar, Kasif and Sharjeel. The bodies were thrown off a bridge," told Asadullah.
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According to his statement, Asadullah and his accomplices then received a call from the sector and they were asked to report at the headquarters. "When we got there, Hammad Siddiqui asked us [about the matter]. We told him that Shahzad bhai had directed us. Shahzad bhai was asked to stay back while we were sent off," he said.
Accomplices of the alleged target killer include Adil Zafar, Kashif, Noman, Adnan, Waseem and Sharjeel.
In custody
Asadullah alias Inqilab was arrested near Nagan Chowrangi by CTD police on November 22. He is currently in CTD custody.
Last week, the arrest of another alleged MQM target killer, Yousuf alias Thelaywala was announced. The arrest of the same man was announced in 2017 by Sindh Rangers. The man's whereabouts and on-goings between the two arrests remain unclear. A video statement of Thelaywala was also released soon after his arrest and several officials including Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah were implicated in the video.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2019.
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