Naqvi suspects Indian hand in Amir Tamba attack

Minister cites India's alleged implication in four previous murder incidents as grounds for suspicion in this case

LAHORE:

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that there are suspicions of Indian involvement in the recent attack on Amir Tamba, a suspect linked to the murder of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat jail back in 2013.

Tamba succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during an assault at his residence in Lahore’s Islampura on Sunday.

Addressing reporters at a news conference held at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regional office in Lahore on Monday, Naqvi said that while the police are actively probing the assault on Tamba, strong indications are pointing towards Indian involvement.

Naqvi cited India's alleged implication in four previous murder incidents similar to Tamba's as grounds for suspicion in this case.

Naqvi stressed the importance of refraining from conclusive statements until the investigation concludes, yet he underscored the apparent pattern linking these attacks to India.

In a separate incident last October, unidentified assailants fatally shot Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Shahid Latif and his security guards in a mosque in Daska. Latif was accused of orchestrating the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack.

Furthermore, in June 2021, a car bombing outside the residence of Hafiz Saeed, leader of the banned Jamatul Dawat (JeD), resulted in multiple casualties. Pakistan had previously accused India's state agency RAW of involvement in these attacks.

Also read Accused in Sarabjit Singh attack case shot dead in Lahore

Switching topics, Naqvi addressed plans to streamline immigration processes at Lahore airport by increasing counters and introducing electronic gates for passport scanning, aiming to expedite the procedures for travellers.

Additionally, steps are being taken to tackle the overbilling of electricity, with assurances from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to support the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in rectifying the issue.
Naqvi also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, acknowledging the need for intensified measures. He commended the Karachi and Sindh Police for their vigorous crackdown on street crimes and advocated for legislation to curb the misuse of social media platforms.

Earlier, Naqvi inaugurated the Shaheed Shahzad Younas Investigation Block, named after the late Inspector Shahzad Younas, in tribute to his service. The minister toured the newly inaugurated block along with FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir and other officials.

Earlier this month, revelations surfaced in The Guardian exposing that the Indian government orchestrated targeted killings in Pakistan as part of a broader strategy aimed at eliminating terrorists residing on foreign soil.

These claims were made by Indian and Pakistani intelligence operatives who disclosed details to The Guardian.

According to interviews conducted with intelligence officials from both nations and supported by documents provided by Pakistani investigators, fresh insights emerged regarding India's purported foreign intelligence operations, particularly its alleged involvement in carrying out assassinations abroad.