Shahzeb Khan’s murder: ‘Police’s poor performance should be questioned’

Senior police officials admit the police should have done earlier what they are doing now.

KARACHI:

After spending nearly two weeks avoiding arrests and allowing ample time for Shahzeb Khan’s alleged killers to escape, the police have been shaken awake by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

The law enforcement agencies had a busy day on Saturday when they arrested several key suspects. Nevertheless, the police performance has been abysmal. Citizens-Police Liaison Committee chief Ahmed Chinoy said that the police’s slow response should be questioned. “What they are doing now, should have been done earlier,” he said.

The Express Tribune explored the different areas where the police showed their distorted loyalties.

Delayed response

During the heated argument between Shahzeb and Shahrukh Jatoi, Shahzeb’s family called the 15 helpline but the police failed to turn up. Later, they asked Shahzeb’s uncle, Nabil Gabol, a Pakistan Peoples Party MNA, to call the police, but to no avail.

The police even failed to show up at Ziauddin hospital. “I called the SHO and DSP of Darakshan police station but they didn’t show up,” Gabol told The Express Tribune. “I then talked to Karachi police chief Iqbal Mehmood and demanded police help.”

The police showed up after an hour and 45 minutes, but they had already been bought by the other party, said Gabol.

Tampered FIR

Witnesses claimed that the murder took place on Tuesday, December 25, between 1am and 1:30am. According to a copy of the FIR (No. 591) with The Express Tribune, the police have noted that the killing happened on Monday, December 24, at 11:50pm. The FIR had stated earlier that the case resulted from personal enmity, but the correction was made after Gabol’s intervention. A day after the incident, the then Darakshan SHO Malik Saleem also claimed that the fight started at the wedding. It was a matter of drunken boys fighting over a girl, he alleged.

Forensic evidence sent?

The police have yet to confirm whether or not they send the bullets, the casings and Shahzeb’s car to the forensic department. The bullet shells are still locked in the drawers of Darakshan police station, said an official, on the condition of anonymity.

Exit Control List

Even though the identities of the suspects were publicised immediately after the incident, the FIA officials admitted, that the police did not request their names in the Exit Control List until January 2. Meanwhile, Darakshan police SIO Aslam Khakrani had been telling the media since the first day that the names were on the list.

Political pressure

Several police officers told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that some politicians made phone calls to their superiors, requesting them to keep a “light hand”. Some officers were also offered money to suppress the case, said an officer. A senior policeman agreed that Sikandar Jatoi, father of prime suspect Shahrukh, has strong connections with the PPP and the PML-N. “Jatoi has always been closest to the minister involved with irrigation and communications.”

The official said that a former governor of Balochistan, who is with the PML-N now, was also supporting the culprits and may have given refuge to Shahrukh.

The accused Nawab Siraj Talpur belongs to the family of MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur from Mirpurkhas and Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur from Dadu, both parliamentarians from the PPP. Former IG Afzal Shigri admitted that there is always pressure in cases where political connections are involved. “It depends on the senior officers. If they refuse to take pressure, the lower ones won’t succumb to it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.