File photo of Hamza Ahmed.
The manager of the security company, whose guard shot 16-year-old Hamza Ahmed in DHA on April 27, was caught on Wednesday along with the second driver of the 16-year-old suspect, Shoaib Ahmed.
Shoaib’s family hired a guard, Amal Khan, from Kardesler security company a few months ago due to some threats they received. On the day of the incident, Hamza and Shoaib met at a cafe on Khayaban-e-Seher to resolve some argument. As the fight went out of hand, Shoaib’s guard allegedly shot Hamza four times and escaped.
Shoaib was arrested a few hours later and his driver, Mushtaq, who was accompanying Shoaib on that day, was caught a day later. Since then, the guard has been on the run but the police made some headway on Wednesday when they arrested the manager of the company, Abid, who has been in touch with Amal seven times since April 27, The Express Tribune learnt.
“We have not faced any pressure from Shoaib’s family or the army,” said an investigating officer, dispelling rumours that the guard escaped because the security company’s retired army officials were supporting him. “Is the guard more important than the manager?” he asked.
The police have also arrested Shoaib’s second driver, Idrees, who may have helped the guard escape. Another police official told The Express Tribune that both, the manager and the driver, were involved in helping the guard escape from the city. They were aware of the incident yet they helped him, he said. Why did these arrests take place after so long? “We have not been sitting idle since the day of the incident, nor is Amal Khan waiting for us to arrest him in a drawing room,” the official said. “We were collecting technical evidence - by tracing phone calls - and finally we saw that the manager and the driver were involved.”
According to Khan’s cellphone records, he was in touch with his manager and talked to him at least seven times since the incident. “If the manager knew that Khan was a murder suspect, why did he stay in touch and not inform the police?” he wondered. The driver also knew that Khan had allegedly shot and yet he drove him to someplace where he could escape the city, he pointed out. Both the arrested men’s names will be added to the FIR.
Where is the guard?
The police believe the guard reached his hometown Karak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but they have yet to arrest him since he has not reached any of his designated addresses. “We have around four to five addresses of where he has contacts, but he hasn’t reached any of them.”
The investigations have been nearly completed as the witnesses have recorded their statements and all of them said the guard shot Hamza. An official said they are just waiting to arrest the guard and obtain the forensic report of the weapon used.
“Actually, Hamza slapped Shoaib and that is when the guard stepped up. Then Hamza challenged the guard to shoot him,” said an officer. “We don’t know what went through the guard’s mind, but he opened fire.” The police are relying on witnesses’ statements and on technical reports. The officer said that if someone else has any other perception, they should step up.
Kardesler not registered with association
The All Pakistan Security Agencies Association (Apsaa) chairperson Col (retd) Tauqeerul Islam told The Express Tribune that Kardesler Security Company (Pvt) Limited is not registered with them.
According to the code of conduct of the Sindh home department, all security companies must be registered with Apsaa. “We have 231 companies registered but Kardesler is not one of them,” he said. “This means the company is illegal.” He further said that the code of conduct makes it mandatory for all security guards to be in uniform but the personnel with this company do not wear uniforms.
Meanwhile, the Kardesler representatives could not be reached for comments as the numbers listed on their official website were not available or were not responding. Even the number of its Karachi-based official, Major (retd) Khurshid, was received by an unknown person who claimed he is not affiliated with any security company. Interestingly, Major Khurshid answered the same number the day of the shooting.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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It is good to be poor than rich
@Anila:
Overseas Pakistanis should try looking at the facts rather than believing overly dramatic, fabricated stories and lies told by their victimized relatives. Try reading the news once in a while to see the truth, rather than displaying blind outrage based on personal opinions and emotions.
ET publish this. stop being biased.
@Anila Firstly, the CCTV footage from the cafe was NOT destroyed, it is STILL in police custody. However, it was not released to the media because it was irrelevant since the area the incident took place was NOT covered by the CCTV. Secondly, it is extremely unfortunate that in this case, the public is seen as jumping to conclusions comparing this case to the Shahzeb Khan case, comparing Shoaib, a minor who turned himself in after HIS GUARD pulled the trigger, to Shahrukh Jatoi, an adult who ran after he HIMSELF pulled the trigger. Also, another thing that needs clarity is that Shahrukh Jatoi may have come from a very rich and influential family, but Shoaib DOES NOT because if he did he wouldn't be sitting in prison in a normal prison chained with other prisoners when in fact the law clearly states that minors are to be kept separate from other prisoners. Thirdly, when we talk about the video that will be playing in Allah's court, I feel like it is wise for us to NOT jump to conclusions and say that Shoaib is guilty or he isn't guilty when we ourselves weren't present at the incident because just like Shoaib's video will play and the truth will come forward, OUR video will also play and if Shoaib IS innocent, thats when those who claim that he is guilty will be questioned, and if he is NOT innocent, those who claim that he is innocent will be questioned. Therefore, I think it is wise to worry about OUR video as opposed to others video's because that's what SHOULD be more important.
@OF: i appreciate anila
agreed with Anila
@Muhammad Ziad: @WB: Before anybody else takes me to task for making the above irresponsible comment, I want to apologize for having commented without reading the news report. I read the heading, was stuck with work and the heading shocked me to the point that I commented right away. I totally agree that the manager does not seem a very responsible person. I hope I can be forgiven for being careless once in a while. And I am totally amused at that Malang part. Great sense of humour. Peace! :-)
@Sanity must prevail,
Don't comment on legalities if you are not aware. Anyone who is in touch with the suspect after the crime will and should be taken into custody for not informing the police. That includes his friends,family and whoever becomes hindrance to justice.
@Sanity must prevail: read the article. the manager HELPED the guard escape; he talked to the killer 7 times after the incident! In a civilized world that's called aiding and abbeting a fugitive and is punishable! Reading your comment it seems you already are a Malang!
What?! How can the security company manager be arrested for something that a guard did?! Mean, if any of my subordinates commits a crime and runs away to Timbaktoo, our police can come and pick me?! I guess I should quit everything and become a Malang!
I think the proper observation to make here is that adults need to take responsibility for the actions of adults. It is such a sorry state of affairs that the older generation has failed to create a safe environment, therefore encouraging guard culture. It is SHAMEFUL that two young boys, in the prime of life, are paying for the mistakes of grownups. Hamza has paid with his life, and Shoaib, who in underage and did NOT shoot, is being made into a scapegoat.
Act like adults. Stop hiding behind a child. Sort out the matter among adults, and raise your voices to protect our children.
In Pakistan, If you are rich & influential then justice automatically falls in your lap. I learnt one thing after Hamza and Shahzeb case. Money can buy everything. Witnesses, police, truth. culprits are forgetting that CCTV footage outside the cafe can be destroyed but the video recorded in Allah's court can NOT be bought or destroyed. Shoaib or Guard can run, hide or lie all their lives but they both will watch that video LIVE in court of ALLAH along with HAMZA Present there to see his justice being served. STILL TIME. CONFESS AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS or its gonna be 70 times more painful.