Police register FIR of Maulana Adil’s assassination

The Shah Faisal Colony Police registered on Tuesday the FIR of prominent cleric Maulana Dr Adil Khan and his driver's murder on behalf of Shah Faisal Colony Police Station SHO inspector Sikandar Khan. The case has been registered under Section 302 (pertaining to murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Maulana Adil Khan, the administrator of Jamia Farooqia seminary, was gunned down along with his driver, Maqsood Ahmed, in Shah Faisal Colony on October 10 around 7.40pm. The attackers, on a motorcycle, opened fire at him and his driver, fleeing the scene afterwards.

As per the FIR, the police received a call on Madadgar-15 helpline on October 10, around 4.45pm, by a person who identified himself as Bilal and reported that some armed men had opened fire at a vehicle in Shah Faisal Colony.

When a police party reached he place of the incident, two persons, who identified themselves as Shah Faisal Colony Police Station head constable Waqar and Hafiz Taha Siddiqui, also a policeman, as well as others at the scene told police that three armed men had opened fire at a silver Toyota Hilux Vigo, bearing registration number ACB-348, around 7.40pm.

Citing the eyewitnesses, the FIR states that one of the attackers was dressed in shalwar kameez, while two others were wearing pants and shirts. The attackers fled after firing at the car, the eyewitnesses told police, adding that they could identify the killers if they were produced before them.

As a result of the firing, Maqsood and another person on the car's backseat, identified as one of Maulana Adil Khan's associates, Maulana Umair, who had returned after making some purchases, were injured. Maqsood later succumbed to his injuries.

All three victims were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Later, when the deceased's families were asked to get an FIR registered, they said they were busy making arrangements for funerals and agreed that a case be registered on behalf of the state, the FIR states.

Following the registration of the FIR, the investigation was assigned to Shah Faisal Colony Police SIO and was later transferred to the counter terrorism department (CTD).

Sindh IGP Muhstaq Ahmed Mahar has also formed a four-member team, led by Karachi AIG Ghulam Nabi Memon and comprising DIG Siddiqui, CTD DIG Omar Shahid Hamid and Korangi SSP Faisal Abdullah Chachar.

The team has been asked to take help from intelligence agencies if needed and submit a report to Sindh IGP after completing the probe.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2020.