SSP Khosa says papers are being prepared for his repatriation, since his passport and visa had been cancelled. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/ THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
KARACHI:
Almost three weeks after the coldblooded murder of 20-year-old Shahzeb Khan, prime suspect Shahrukh Jatoi surrendered himself on Monday at the Pakistani consulate in Dubai.
“We had information about his whereabouts and when I reached Dubai, Shahrukh called me up and said he wanted to surrender,” SSP Niaz Ahmed Khosa confirmed to The Express Tribune from Dubai. “Thus on Monday evening, Shahrukh gave himself up at the Pakistani consulate, where he is currently being kept.”
Khosa said papers were being prepared for his repatriation, since his passport and visa had been cancelled. As soon as they are completed, he is to be brought back, most likely on Tuesday (today) via a temporary permit or passport issued by UAE authorities.
“I am innocent and was falsely being implicated in the murder case. I will prove my innocence before a court in Pakistan,” an officer quoted Shahrukh as saying in his initial statement.
Shahrukh reportedly managed to escape to Dubai using a fake identity, ‘Nawab Jatoi.’ Sources say he left via Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, and an inquiry has been ordered to ascertain how he managed to slip away.
“We have asked Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials to explain how he fled to Dubai,” SSP Investigations Faizullah Karejo told The Express Tribune. “FIA officials have yet to explain it to us.”
FIA Sindh region director Abdul Malik was unavailable for comments.
A senior police officer privy to the matter told The Express Tribune that since his escape to Dubai, Shahrukh had been staying at the farmhouse of an Arab businessman in Dubai. SSP Khosa, however, did not give information about the whereabouts of Shahrukh in Dubai and said he would share this information upon their arrival in Karachi.
The residences of Sikander Jatoi, Shahrukh’s father, which have been sealed by the police on the directives of the Supreme Court, were reoccupied in Karachi on Monday.
According to police sources, Jatoi’s family and domestic help reoccupied the homes without informing the police, adding that the houses and property were sealed by the police to make Sikander’s arrest possible. “It was a pressure tactic to compel Sikander to surrender,” said a senior investigation officer. “I think the aim behind sealing his properties is achieved with the arrest of Sikander Jatoi and his son.”
According to sources, Clifton SSP Javed Maher has reportedly been transferred because he failed to stop the reoccupation of Sikander’s houses. The decision was also reportedly connected to his failure to stop protesters from gathering at Bilawal Chowrangi on Monday to protest Hazara killings.
Friends, family react
“Shahrukh’s surrender is a step closer to getting justice,” said Shahzeb’s relieved father, DSP Aurangzeb, upon hearing that the prime suspect was in police custody.
“Had I given up thinking that I can’t fight against the powerful, I wouldn’t have achieved anything. But thank God, I remained steadfast and decided to challenge the system where the children of the rich are not punished for their crimes,” he added.
A close friend of Shahzeb, Ahmed Zuberi, said, “We are happy that Shahrukh is in police custody. But for us real happiness will come when the criminals [killers] are punished.”
Zuberi, who accompanied Shahzeb to the hospital in his final moments, said the movement for justice would continue till the culprits are convicted. “Shahrukh claims he is innocent. We all want to ask him, why did he escape if he is not guilty?”
Another friend, Talha, said, “Justice for Shahzeb means justice for all, and we hope the court and police punish the criminals. The whole nation stood up for this boy.”
Congratulatory messages were also noted on the Facebook page, “In Memory of Shahzeb Khan” following the arrest.
On December 25, 2012, Shahzeb was murdered allegedly by Siraj Talpur and Shahrukh over a petty issue near Mubarak Masjid, DHA, in Karachi.
His death sparked a movement on social media and triggered off a series of protests, condemnations by political parties and a suo motu notice by the chief justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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@Kate: hi kate, How did u guessed that shah rukh is not guilty and escaped only due to a fear to be involved in a murder case? what do u know about the story? and why he has to surrender in Dubai and prove his innocence before a court in Pakistan? wouldn't he suppose to surrender in Pakistan in the case of so?
@Kate: Nonsense!!!
Watch Shahzeb Khanzada's program, all eyewitnesses have similar accounts!
And he ran away and no one is beating him up or anything else, if he is innocent than he will be proven 'not guilty' simple. However, so many people can't lie and if it was not Shahrukh who killed him than who?
I would be surprized, VERY SURPRIZED to find out that Shahrukh openly fired three times, (eyewitnesses said that and so did actor Shamo'on on tv that he heard three fires) and someone else killed him within a span of a few minutes following him and that too near his house!
Also, if Shahrukh didn't kill him that what about Siraj Talpur who has admitted that it was Shahrukh who shot him?
There are too many eye witnesses in this case and FINALLY!
I have lived in karachi and part of the reaosn I hate this city is because of these waderas who would think they are above law. I had a few friends who behaved this way and I still hate to see their faces because of the non-sensical uneducated way of thinking they have!!
JUSTICE for SHAHZEB!!
There are just too many witnesses to this crime for it to be easily hidden away. Those who are defending this chap are either themselves "wadera ka betas" or are close friends of the guy, which makes sense.
Anyways, no one is saying to hang the chap out to dry without a trial. Actually, the fact that people are expressing their concern that he will be judged innocent through legal trickery are actually consenting to a free and fair trial, not lynching.
So let's have the trial commence at the Supreme Court and we'll see how it develops. In a similar situation, a family with such clout and money, should have presented their child to the police immediately, because they know for sure that he will not be mistreated by them, out of fear of career reprisals. So why make him flee and seem to be guilty, instead of presenting him for "justice" and get him off on the basis of truth.
The only reason young Mr. Jatoi has surrendered is because the entire family was locked out of their homes, the dad was in jail and no body was willing to help in getting them off scot-free. This is a new situation for the feudals, where those they deem as minions and their serf have gained the power of justice on their side!
@ Kate:
Shahrukh was implicated and accused of the murder the very day the murder was committed. He absconded, and was on the run for 2 days before getting the chance to flee from Pakistan. This was because his name was on the Exit Control List, and he would have been arrested if he appeared at Karachi Airport immediately after the murder.
Just because Shahrukh is "16 years of age who is educated, softly spoken, polite and reserved with a cheeky smile" does not automatically mean that he is innocent of this charge, especially if many witnesses have come forward to identify him as the murderer. Of course, this doesn't mean that one should presume him guilty as well. He should, and will, have his day in court. Also, the victim's family will also have their day in court, and God willing, justice will be delivered. If Shahrukh is guilty, then his polite demeanour and his cheeky smile will not, and should not, save him.
And no--if my son was charged of murder, I would not help him run away, especially on (presumably) fake travel documents (and hence committing more crimes, and implicating my son even further), nor would I obstruct justice by coming on TV and spinning a tale that is patently untrue. This strategy reeks of a guilty conscience.
Shahrukh has not surrendered before the authorities because he is innocent; he simply has no choice. A suo moto action has been taken by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and there is immense pressure on the government and the police to present the accused in court. Indeed, Shahrukh's father has the means to keep him safe and hidden for many many years, but this movement has simply gained too much momentum for this murder to be forgotten and to become a statistic. Most importantly, if Shahrukh was innocent, he would have surrendered weeks ago.
Finally, the story of Shahzeb's family and friends has not been changing. Shahzeb's father and friends have been interviewed a number of times, and their "story" has been consistent and believable throughout this entire ghastly episode. Please show some respect for the victim and his loved ones, and don't ridicule or discredit them needlessly.
I don't know where you have been getting your information, but it seems are are either (i) horribly misinformed, and/or (ii) overly sympathetic towards the accused.
All their property should be confiscated and be given to Shahzebs father InshaAllah Shiriah Law
Why is everyone against this kid? What I'd he is really innocent? Let him say what He wants to prove and then let the court decide, we are no judges here , I doubt the Ithenticity of the witnesses, if they want justice then they should better stick with the mr truth Only, or they are fine with only shahrukh being hanged? Wether he is guilty or not !!! Bloody herd mentality ppl
Shahrukh did not leave the country until 48 hours later. Perhaps this was because his family was told he'd been implicated (and there are politics at work against him and his family)?
This is a young man of 16 years of age who is educated, softly spoken, polite and reserved with a cheeky smile. His family may have money, but this doesn't make him guilty of murder.
If your son was about to be charged with murder, and you had the money to get him to safety - wouldn't YOU want to help YOUR son get away to somewhere safe so you can get legal advice and evidence to prove his innocence (yes, even if it means using a passport under a different name!)? AND also note that Shahrukh surrendered himself, so he can prove his innocence. His family has the means and money to have been able to have kept him "hidden" for years.
Seems as though the people who implicated Shahrukh were the ones actually present at the time - and their "story" keeps on changing!!
Seems also that there is a lot more at play than has been reported in the media.
I am so very sorry for the loss to one family of their beloved son, Shahzeb in such a tragic manner - but doesn't mean that Shahrukh is guilty. Time will tell.
Let's hang the "Wadera Ka Beta" now! Shame on his parents by raising a criminal son like Shahrukh. Teach these Waderas a lesson which there ten generations would not forget. Thank you CJ Sahib, Express TV and your newspaper who raised this issue.
Now the case will be dragged in the court and money will buy him his innocence. The system is corrupt and flawed to the grass root level and nothing can be done about it.
now really, Test for Police and SC
"borned innocent".....to be hanged till death
“I am innocent and was falsely being implicated in the murder case. I will prove my innocence before a court in Pakistan,” an officer quoted Shahrukh as saying in his initial statement.
If you were innocent, why did you leave Pakistan? COWARD!!
“I am innocent and was falsely being implicated in the murder case. I will prove my innocence before a court in Pakistan,” <== Read b/w the lines people he will walk free in couple of months.
Express Tribune, being judgmental you have lost your credibility. It's shameful!
He surrendered himself how daft is your reporting
In Criminal Law, "flight", which in this case would be Jatoi fleeing away from where he allegedly committed the crime, can be used by the prosecution to show consciousness of guilt. Legally speaking, unless Jatoi can show that his flight away was not connected to the crime( highly unlikely as he ran away with a fake passport), he has guilt written all over him. This really should be a slam dunk case against him.
In addition to murder he should be tried for carrying arms not licenced to him, travelling on someone else's passport.
"I am innocent and was falsely being implicated in the murder case. I will prove my innocence before a court in Pakistan”.....you are so wrong because if you were innocent then you wouldn't escape to Dubai using a fake identity, you murdered an innocent young boy and inshah ALLAH you and your supporters will pay dearly for his blood.
MASHALLAH ....even waderas r answerable now..
"Game over?", no; let the power game begin.