Journalist murder convict sent on 14-day remand

Kamran, affiliated with MQM-L, killed Wali Khan Babar in 2011

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) handed over on Tuesday a convict in Wali Khan Babar murder case, Kamran alias Zeeshan, to Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police on a 14-day physical remand in a case registered under the Arms and Ammunition Act.

The convict was presented before the court by SIU officials amid tight security, with his face covered.

Besides, SIU officials submitted a report to the court, according to which Kamran had been sentenced to death by an ATC in Shikarpur in February and was to be presented before it by Wednesday.

The investigation officer (IO) further informed the court that Kamran had confessed to killing Babar, a journalist, in 2011on the orders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) leadership that had approached him via Faisal Mota. "Weapons used for the murder were also provided by Mota," the IO said, adding that at the time of arrest, weapons, including a hand grenade were seized from Kamran's possession.

He said that Kamran had joined MQM-L in 2008 and the party's members, including Faisal alias Nafsiyati, Shahrukh alias Mani, Muhammad Ali Rizvi and Naveed alias Polka, had abetted Babar's murder.

The IO also told the court that the convict had confessed to four more murders, besides his involvement in other criminal activities, during interrogation.

Maintaining that more confessions and arrests were expected, the IO moved the court to grant Kamran's 14-day physical remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2020.