Police see RAW involvement in cleric’s murder
The Shahrah-e-Faisal police have registered the murder case of Jamia Abu Bakr Madrasa Administrator Maulana Ziaur Rehman against an unidentified perpetrator following a complaint from the victim's cousin, Abdullah.
According to the filed FIR, Maulana Zia, resided in Gulistan-e-Johar, Block-16, and frequently visited a nearby park next to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) office for walks. Tragically, on September 12 at 12:30pm, an assailant entered the park, promptly shot and killed Zia, and then fled the scene.
The deceased was a father of two daughters. His funeral prayer is scheduled for 9am on Thursday.
The Karachi police chief has indicated the potential involvement of external elements, specifically RAW, the intelligence agency of the neighbouring country, in the murder.
CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas is being obtained for investigation. Additionally, eleven shell casings recovered from the scene are being sent to the lab for forensic analysis to determine their connection to other crimes.
Witnesses reported that two individuals on motorcycles indiscriminately opened fire in the incident. The police hope the nearby CCTV cameras may provide valuable information regarding the culprits.
Karachi Police Chief Khadim Hussain Rind has labelled the killing of Maulana Zia an act of terrorism aimed at disrupting peace and order during Rabi-ul-Awwal.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has collected evidence from the crime scene, and preliminary investigations suggest the possible involvement of RAW in the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2023.