Shahzeb Khan murder: Suspect’s father gives conflicting details
Shahrukh Jatoi came to Pakistan on December 14 and left on December 25: Father
Shahrukh Jatoi came to Pakistan on December 14 and left on December 25: Father PHOTO: SCREENSHOT
During an interview on the show ‘To the Point’ aired on Express News on January 1, Shahrukh’s father Sikander Jatoi said that his son had been falsely accused of murder.
“He has been studying in Australia for the past eight years. He is pursuing his MBA at the moment. He came to Pakistan on December 14 and left on December 25.” Sikander said that his son had gone to grab a burger where the argument broke out. When Shahrukh stopped his car, an irate DSP Aurangzeb descended on him and struck his face, he claimed. “My son was bleeding. Shahzeb’s friends said sorry to him and let him go. His brother took him to a private hospital for treatment,” Sikander told Express News. “He left the hospital at around 2am and headed to the airport.” When repeatedly asked to name the hospital and the details of the flight, Sikander failed to answer. He last spoke to his son on December 24.
He said his sons carried weapons but they were registered in his name. A few minutes later, he contradicted himself, saying, “Shahrukh did not carry weapons.”
Among the eyewitnesses is actor Shamoon Abbasi, who saw the events unfold from the 11th floor of a building next to Country Club Apartments. He appeared on the same show on January 4. Abbasi said that around midnight, he was out on the balcony. “Suddenly I heard three shots being fired and glanced down to the corner of the lane.” Abbasi said that he saw a car speed off. “When I looked back at the spot, I just saw a couple of guards leisurely getting into vehicles.” He said that he first thought that a robbery had occurred, but then off to his right, he heard four more shots being fired and then the sound of a car crash followed by police sirens.
Gabol won’t back down
On the same episode, PPP MNA Nabil Gabol, who is Shahzeb’s uncle, recalled that after Shahzeb’s funeral, when he was crossing Sikander’s house, he saw around eight to 10 vehicles parked outside. A man told him that Jatoi was sitting calmly inside. “I called up the police and told them, ‘look, he’s still sitting in his house. Why don’t you just admit that you aren’t doing your job and have accepted bribes? Should I call up the chief minister?’”
Gabol added he would not back down unless “Shahzeb Khan is brought back to life or Sikander hands his accused son over to the courts”.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2013.