‘US-based Pakistani woman ran network of MQM-L target killers’

In a joint press conference held on Thursday, officials of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Rangers revealed that a US-based Pakistani woman was reportedly ran a network of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London’s (MQM-L) target killers in Karachi.

In a press conference held with Sindh Rangers' Colonel Shabbir, CTD DIG Omar Shahid identified the woman as Kehkashan Haider.

He added that the officials learnt of the woman's involvement following a joint operation that led to the arrests of a team of MQM-L target killers in 2017.

Read: CTD arrests ‘MQM-L target killer’

A call recording of the alleged woman was also played during the presser in which she could be heard giving directions to a target killer, asking him to aim for the target's head and neck.

She is further heard telling the culprit to change the motorcycle’s number plate after fleeing the scene.

The probe also revealed that the woman had sent Rs 300,000 as reward for a murder, half of which was received by Asif Raees through means of Hawala Hundi, whereas $1,470 were received on the NIC number of fugitive Chand's wife, Huma, from a money changer’s branch located in the Nagan area.

Officials added that these crimes of terrorism were carried out on the orders of the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Read more: Two alleged MQM-L target killers arrested

The woman had apparently also ordered the assassination of Union Council Chairman Rashid Mamoo. In addition, it was discovered that more groups of target killers had been formed in Karachi to target law enforcement agencies, police, political and religious leaders.

Addressing the media, Colonel Shabbir said that target killers arrested by Rangers, who have also been sentenced to life imprisonment, had also named a woman named Kehkashan.