LeJ’s Karachi chief and six others arrested in search operation

The police claim that the suspects were planning an attack on Central Jail.

KARACHI:

The Crime Investigation Department’s Anti-Extremist Cell spent a busy Friday morning arresting the chief of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s (LeJ) Karachi chapter and six of his accomplices, said the department’s DIG Kamran Fazal at a press conference. “These people [the suspects] are responsible for the recent sectarian violence in the city. They have targeted many lawyers, political workers and policemen.” He also claims to have thwarted two terrorist plots and seized around 125 kilogrammes of explosives, seven suicide jackets, seven rocket launchers, two Kalashnikovs, four TT pistols, three 9mm pistols from the suspects.

The suspects were identified as Mehmood Babar alias Durki Shah, Fahimul Haq alias Bihari, Tahir alias Mota, Abid alias Abbasi alias Shoaib, Arif, Enayatullah alias Maya, and Rafiq aka Inam aka Sheena.

According to Fazal, IG Fayyaz Leghari had asked him to keep the law and order situation of the city under control so he had set up a special team led by SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan to do so. “The Anti-Extremist Cell carried out a raid on a tip-off in Noor Mohammad Goth and arrested the suspects,” he said. “When we went to arrest them, the suspects were loading two cars with explosives. It looked like they had something big planned.” He added that during the initial investigation, one of the suspects had confessed to have received orders from Waziristan to attack Central Jail, Karachi, and free their men.

According to Fazal, the suspects were going to target a school bus in Mauripur and when the police was distracted, they would break into prison and free the LeJ men. “Arif and Enayatullah were sent from Waziristan by Asif Chohto to prepare the explosive and fix them in the school bus,” he said. “The suspect told us that for in order to attack the prison, 25 more men were being sent to Karachi.”

While talking to the media SSP Aslam said that Babar was the mastermind behind the sectarian violence in the city. “He [Babar] became involved in these targeted attack in 2008,” he said. “Babar was arrested and sent to jail as well but was released and started the whole cycle of killing again. The government had also put Rs1 million up as reward for anyone who caught him.” He added that Babar had killed around 25 people, including four Shia lawyers near Arambagh and Eidgah this year.

“One of the other suspects, Fahim, is known for targeting imambargahs,” said the SSP. “He was sentenced to death but was released after an appeal and serving 12 years behind bars.”

IG Fayyaz Leghari was supposed to be there but could not make it due to his schedule.

Targeted attacks

Two political party activists were among three people shot dead in the city on Friday. A man identified as 30-year-old Ameen Ahmed was gunned down near Moosa Lane, Lyari, said the Baghdadi police station. SHO Haji Sanaullah said that Ahmed was a resident of Kharadar and was associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. He added that Ahmed was reported missing on Thursday night. The police suspect that the murder was politically motivated.

According to the Landhi police, a worker of the Sunni Tehreek identified as 23-year-old Fida Ali was killed near his house by two men on a motorcycle. DSP Majeed Abbas claimed that Ali was also associated with the Dawat-e-Islami and suspects that he was killed in a sectarian attack.

In Golimar Chowrangi, 38-year-old Atif was shot dead in a shop, said the Rizvia police. DSP Rustam Khattak said that four men on two motorcycles opened fire at Atif and escaped before the police got there. He added that Atif was not affiliated with any political or religious parties. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2012.