ISLAMABAD:
Ministry of Interior’s Crime Control Unit (CCU) revealed on Sunday that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had been receiving death threats from a detained activist of a banned militant outfit from southern Punjab.
The CCU was investigating threatening calls which Malik had been receiving since over a year and a half. The CCU investigators, with assistance from Islamabad Police, arrested Khadim Hussain from a village Sirashta Nashaib – a stronghold of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan – situated around 20 kilometres away from Layyah.
A senior official of the Islamabad Secretariat Police claimed that 35-year-old Hussain was the head of a militant group which was threatening Malik.
“We have leads on some more persons belonging to Sirashta Nashaib — a strong hold of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan in district Layyah,” he disclosed.
His mobile SIM (subscriber identity module) card was reportedly used for communicating with planners of the blasts that occurred in Bara Kahu, Islamabad last month, the official added.
However, Superintendent of Police (SP) Muhammad Ilyas said that the police have no proof yet that the accused’s SIM card had been used for communicating with Islamabad-based journalist Saleem Shahzad, who was mysteriously found dead in district Mandi Bahauddin in May this year.
Another police official claimed that the cellular number 0307-7431354, registered in the name of the accused, had been used in various terrorist activities by the banned outfit’s activists. Layyah District Police Officer Chaudhry Saleem, quoting findings of the CCU, said that Hussain was said to be involved in cyber crime.
“Ninety per cent people of this area use unregistered SIM cards because they are unaware about the proper usage of cellular services in the villages of Jamman Shah and Kot Sultan,” he explained.
The Kot Sultan Police Station SHO Sarfaz Khan Gaddi Baloch claimed that Hussain appeared to be innocent and had no criminal record.
“A sub-inspector of the Islamabad Police had lodged a report with us and formally arrested the accused under 324/7 Anti Terrorism Act in case number 89/11 dated June 12, 2011,” said Baloch.
On Saturday, Islamabad’s Assistant SP Dr Khalil Ahmed rushed to Layyah along with the records of the case so that the accused could be presented before the district magistrate for further procedure, local media reported.
Hussain, who has four children, is a peasant by profession, according to his relative.
“We are innocent people. We are illiterate and we don’t even know who Rehman Malik is,” he told The Express Tribune while seeking anonymity.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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I don't know why people act like they do when it comes to that man. He doesn't deserve to be harmed. He has a habit of wording things bad, especially when it comes to being directed at a large audience. But, it's usually just silly enough to shake your head at. He comes off as a person with good intentions who happens to be naive and gullible as well. Also, he actually addresses the people where the other politicians are scarce and silent. What does he get for it? People saying he should be shot because he made a silly clothing metaphor and gave a random percentage estimate that was never meant to be an exact figure and only meant it as saying "there's a very good chance that..."
I'm not a resident of that part of the world and I may not agree with some statements made. But the way you guys speak of people for the smallest things to such extremes make it really hard to sympathize even a little or even see something bad happen and say with complete confidence that you didn't deserve it.
the islamic fascists can't stand anyone who dares to challenge their hatefilled barbaric religious ideology.the ppp instead of surrendering before them after the shahadat of salman taseer shaheed should have taken these bearded terrroists head on and worked to eliminate their bases of power.instead,the ppp surrendered before these islamic fanatics and forced the brave sherry rehman to withdraw her bill against the draconian blasphemy laws.the govt. should close down all madrassas which are nothing but breeding grounds for future religious terrorists.
in 98% sure its all made up :)
Why threats only?
soon we will see the result the prosecution and case will be so weak that these criminals will be released with honor by the judiciary.