Shahzeb murder case: Two pistols used in shooting, say police

Neither weapon recovered; two more suspects nominated.

KARACHI:

Police confirmed on Monday that two guns were used in Shahzeb Khan’s murder by prime suspects Shahrukh Jatoi and Siraj Talpur.

The confirmation came in the wake of the recording of witnesses’ statements. Police said that both suspects opened fire on the 20-year-old Shahzeb on December 25, 2012, in Karachi. Neither of the two weapons has been recovered though.

“We will not rest till the two pistols are recovered … this could be a major development,” said Inspector Mohammad Mobin, who is investigating the case.

“We have caught both suspects, the case will be resolved soon,” he added.

Shahrukh was presented before an anti-terrorism court on January 17 after he surrendered himself to the Karachi police in Dubai, while Siraj, along with his brother Sajjad Talpur and cook Ghulam Murtaza, was arrested from rural Sindh.

The police also confirmed that two other suspects – Shahrukh’s cousin Salman Jatoi and friend Asif Lund – have been nominated in the murder case. According to eyewitnesses, the two suspects had a role to play in the murder.

“The murder occurred at the behest of these two [suspects] since they kept on pushing and daring Shahrukh and Siraj to go ahead with it,” the officer said. So far, Salman and Asif have not been arrested.

According to police sources, Asif is in Dubai and was earlier in touch with investigators since his brothers had been detained by the police.



Inspector Mobin believes the two suspects will be arrested soon.

Age verification

Shahrukh Jatoi was presented before the additional police surgeon’s office in Karachi on Monday to determine and verify his age. Shahrukh’s age is disputed as his passport shows he is under age. Upon court orders, Shahrukh
was taken to the Civil Hospital in Karachi for an examination under the presence of a medical board, headed by additional police surgeon Dr Ejaz Ahmed Khokhar.

“We will determine his age within 24 hours,” Dr Khokhar told The Express Tribune.

If he is in fact under age, Shahrukh will be treated under juvenile law and be detained in a juvenile prison, where he will continue to face trial. However, if proven that he is 18 years old or above, Shahrukh will be held in the Central Jail.

Investigation Mobin, however, claimed that Shahrukh was older than 18. “In my experience, and after consulting doctors, he is over the age of 19,” he told The Express Tribune.

Shahzeb Khan’s father DSP Auranzeb Khan has been made in charge of Traffic Licence Branch Clifton in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2013.