Policemen escort one of the prime suspects in the Shahzeb Khan murder case, Siraj Talpur, from the Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday. Siraj was arrested on the Dadu-Moro bridge in Naushero Feroze last Saturday. The police had also arrested his brother, Sajjad Talpur. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
Nawab Siraj Talpur, one of the prime suspects in Shahzeb Khan’s murder case, has been remanded into police custody for 10 days.
On Monday, Anti-Terrorism Court-III judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon granted the physical remand of Siraj, 22, his 21-year-old brother, Nawab Sajjad Talpur, and their 23-year-old cook, Ghulam Murtaza Lashari, until January 16.
The Talpur brothers are among the prime suspects in Shahzeb Khan’s murder. Shahzeb was killed allegedly by Siraj’s friend, Shahrukh Jatoi, after a petty argument on December 25.
The Darakhshan police registered a case (591/2012) under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the victim’s father. Shahrukh Jatoi, the Talpur brothers and nine more unidentified suspects, including the Talpurs’ cook, were nominated in the FIR.
As the law enforcers failed to arrest the killers - and reports suggesting Shahrukh Jatoi had fled abroad, crowds took to the streets seeking justice for the victim’s family. On January 1, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while taking suo motu notice, ordered the Sindh police chief to track down the killers within 24 hours. After the court order, the police arrested 10 of the nominated accused from different cities.
On Monday, the police were finally able to produce the three main suspects in an anti-terrorism court. They were brought to the court in two armoured personnel carriers escorted by a police van.
Inside the courtroom, the additional supervisory investigation officer, Waseem Ahmed, submitted that abetment, common intention and terrorism were included in the FIR after recording the statements of Shahzeb Khan’s father, his relatives and eyewitnesses. Sections 354, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 were added to the case.
The officer said the police needed the physical custody of the alleged accused for 15 more days to complete all the legal formalities. “The police have to arrest more people on the information provided by the men arrested,” the officer told the judge. “The murder weapon has yet to be recovered. The investigators have to record the statements of witnesses under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code; verify the suspects’ criminal record; and parade them for identification before the magistrate,” he elaborated.
However, the judge, turning down the request, allowed the physical custody of the accused for 10 days.
The judge also directed the case investigation officer to complete the investigation and submit the charge-sheet within the stipulated period.
In another development, Aftab Jatoi was also booked by Dadu police under abetment charges.
The suspect allegedly provided shelter to the three men on the request of their relative Azam Bhugiyo. A case under Section 109 of the PPC was lodged with the A-Section police station, Dadu.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
COMMENTS (20)
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Aoa All, few things;
The faces are covered due to an old custom (rightfully so) of "Innocent, until proven guilty!!", yes everyone has the right to be innocent until the Law or the prosecutors prove them guilty of the charge. As such, it is not wise to parade them in public with how they look at present, to ensure the safety. Let's say, they caught someone who merely looked like the accused, and before they had identified them correctly using all prescribed means, some jiala with a gun comes along and kills the captured, later we find that the person killed was the accused's twin brother or a close relative who police had caught by mistake etc. Clothes and shoes, people who are questioning their shoes must not have seen anyone from rural Sindh, if you're rich, you wear nice clean clothes like these two or nice shiny sandals like the person on the right side, if you're poor, you either have no shoes, or you wear chappals repaired in fifteen different spots, your clothes are torn and dirty. The way I see it, police seems to have caught people they believe to be the Talpurs and their servant (who might be the guy on the left with coloured shalwar kameez and unpolished shoes.Ofcourse Allah knows best.
Salams, Fawad.
I agree with many of the people here. The pic is not of the accused. The waderay ka beta would never wear such shoes or have a smelly, policemans shawl thrown over his face. Not possible.
New Burka in fashion?
Pic is fake.
The picture does not appear to tally with the news story. Becasue faces are covered (why cover the faces of criminals - let the whole world see them), therefore, people under the hood/blanket might be some servants and not the real criminals.
Uncover their faces only then we can be sure if they real culprits...this is not the first time that police covers the accused when bringing them in front of media or while entering court....when media & civil society going to put such question to the police ?
Shahzeb khan is the nephew of nabil gabol. Hence the prompt action by the courts an police.
Why our police always covers the faces of 'Mulzimn'??? It's a mystry..
@Grace: Police had nothing to do with it, in fact they were dragging their feet despite victim's father being in Police. It was not until the CJ and media made a show of it, so let's give the credit where it is due. The next thing to see would be an example made of them - something in the nature of a public hanging during Zia's time in Lahore.
Show their faces please . we all shud not let them get free
It.s the same thing seeking everyone's attention sfter seeing this picture, no one can say that they can wear such shoes. But the other point which comes in mind in, they were hiding from police since long time and they might be hiding in such conditions that these shoes are giving weird impression. It's just a thought. Besides that, I think our country can do wonders. I hope and I pray that CJ take all these cases which are being pending in the courts seriously and provide justice. This proves another thing that our police can catch anyone. there's no running away from our police. Hats off!
@MK: The Sindh Police is making fun with the CJ, Police have been taken care of by Sikander Jatoi and some federal and provincial Ministers. The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court should take notice of this mockery and ridicule of the rule of law. There is very high probility that the real accused were pampered at the unknown location. All this could not have happened without ollaboration of the police high command.
By looking at their clothes and shoes, it appears they are poor servants and not the nawabs as we assume they should be. Is there a way to prove that the captured people are the Siraj Talpur and Sajjad Talpur?
Sadly, he will be freed soon...
No need for the Jatoi family to worry as he will be released soon. Murder is not a big thing in Pakistan.
Man.. Please.
Express Tribune, a sincere appeal, for once, no sarcasm for me. Tell your agency to lift those blankets. Siraj and his brother don't wear those shoes.
Post this up and edit the article in the below mentioned manner. They well respect you, as they did when you raised the issue so profoundly.
Tell us that YOU aren't sure if it's the accused under those covers.
Because, I'm sure its not him.
Well done. This shows how thngs can improve if people take an active role in making sure justice is served. Hats off to the police, media and Chief Justice for apprehending these criminals. Proud to be Pakistani !
One has to consider the sense of loss of leghari and the police department, as their windfall has been denied by the strict action of CJ. Their greedy souls must be feeling so deprived.