Shahzeb Khan’s murder: Sikander Jatoi named in FIR

Police officials say Sikander was named for helping his son Shahrukh evade capture.

KARACHI:

Police implicated the father of Shahzeb Khan’s alleged killer in his murder case on Sunday.

Police officials confirmed that Sikander Jatoi’s name had been placed in the FIR for aiding his son, prime suspect Shahrukh Jatoi, evade capture. Talking to The Express Tribune, Inspector Mohammad Mobin maintained “there is no doubt Sikander Jatoi is helping his son avoid arrest.”

In the case hearing on Friday, the Supreme Court (SC) had expressed displeasure with police officials for failing to nominate Sikander in the FIR.

Meanwhile, Nawab Siraj Talpur, the other prime suspect in the case, has been moved to Karachi. Siraj, his father Nawab Imdad Talpur, brother Sajjad Talpur and the family’s cook Ghulam Murtaza were arrested from Dadu on Saturday.



The suspects are currently being detained at the Special Investigation Unit centre in Karachi’s Saddar locality. According to sources, they were being held in an officer’s room at the centre instead of the lockup as per routine procedure. Strict security measures are in place however with no one, including the media, allowed to visit the suspects. The sources said even family members and relatives had been barred from contact.

The suspects have been charged under section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act and will be produced before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) today (Monday).

Another source privy to the development told The Express Tribune that Siraj appears to have taken a defensive stance. In his initial statement, he placed the blame for the murder squarely on Shahrukh’s shoulders. According to the source, Siraj also claimed the weapon used to kill Shahzeb belonged to Shahrukh’s father Sikander Jatoi.

SSP Investigations Faizullah Karejo, however, shot down the veracity of Siraj’s statement. When contacted, he told The Express Tribune that most accused try to defend themselves in their initial statement. He added that nothing could be said for certain until investigations were complete.

Separately, police have also arrested one Aftab Jatoi for helping Siraj and his family members hide. A separate case has been registered against him by Dadu police. According to Inspector Mobin, Aftab confessed to his involvement. He added that they were also looking for a certain Azam Bugio, also accused of helping Siraj and his family hide.

“I promise Shahrukh, his father Sikander Jatoi and all other absconding accused will be in police custody soon,” said Inspector Mobin while talking to The Express Tribune.

According to police officials, while Shahrukh’s whereabouts are still unknown, a red warrant for his arrest will be issued soon. Karachi police have asked the interior ministry to approach Interpol in this regard after reports emerged that he may have fled to the UAE.

Talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Faizullah Karejo said that while nothing could be said for certain regarding Shahrukh’s whereabouts, the red warrants were supposed to be a precaution in case he did manage to flee the country.

Meanwhile, a police team including Sindh Inspector General (IG) Fayyaz Leghari, Deputy IG Shahid Hayat, SSP Karejo and Inspector Mobin have reached Islamabad to appear before the apex court today (Monday).

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad has directed the Sindh IG to take every step to ensure justice is served in the case, according to a statement issued on Monday. He directed the IG to complete the investigation in accordance with the law without conceding to any ‘pressure or influence’. (WITH ADDITONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2013.