Jalib’s killers captured: police

Police have arrested two key suspects in last month’s murder of BNP leader Habib Jalib.

QUETTA: Police have arrested two key suspects in last month’s murder of Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Habib Jalib Baloch, a top official said on Friday.

Provincial Police Officer (PPO) Malik Iqbal told reporters that Baloch’s killing on July 14 was motivated by personal enmity and the men implicated in his death were relatives and neighbours of the late BNP leader. The suspects were identified as Hijaz Ahmed and Muneer Ahmed. According to the PPO, Hijaz was working as a Munshi for Baloch.

The police also recovered TT pistols, a Kalashnikov and a motorcycle – all of which were used in the killing.

“Several organisations claimed responsibility for the murder to divert the attention of law enforcement agencies. The investigation teams under the supervision of Quetta CCPO Ghulam Shabbir Sheikh inspected the case from several angles,” said the PPO.

The suspects, according to the police officer, hatched the plot to murder Baloch in a hotel where they were staying. Both the suspects took part in a demonstration against Baloch’s killing as well as the funeral prayers.

According to the PPO, the suspects had led them to important clues during the investigation. “They shared with us two other names who they say were also involved in killing of Baloch,” said Malik Iqbal. However, he added that relatives of Jalib will identify the criminals during the identification parade.

The PPO also announced that a reward for Rs1 million  to anyone who could help police teams in the investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2010.