Advocate Randhawa, leader of the Sindh's lawyers wing of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, was shot dead by armed motorcyclists on September 26 while on his way home in Block-B in North Nazimabad.
AIG Hayat claimed the accused was arrested from Gizri on Monday night and a 9mm pistol recovered from his possession.
The police chief said the arrested has confessed to murdering Randhawa with assistance from a few other individuals, besides admitting to seven other instances of murder.
"We have arrested a murderer tonight who has admitted that he and a few other companions killed Naimat Ali Randhawa. He is affiliated with MQM's unit-178 and has been identified as Kazim Abbas Rizvi, son of Syed Muhammad Abbas Rizvi."
Hayat further explained that initial interrogations yielded the impression that the motive behind the killing was connected with the murder case of Wali Khan Babar, a journalist who worked for the television channel 'Geo News' and was gunned down in Liaquatabad, Karachi, on January 2011.
"According to my information, Advocate Randhawa had expressed the intent to present the final arguments in the murder case of Wali Babar, though he hadn't yet filed the papers yet. We are going to investigate this further, but as far as preliminary investigations go, it seems the killers did not want the Advocate to prosecute in Babar's case."
He ruled out any sectarian dimension to the murder, terming it specifically as "politically motivated targeted killing".
The AIG stated that the arrest was made possible through the joint efforts of police and Rangers, and that raids were underway for arrests of four other criminals that the murderer claimed to have been complicit in the crime.
"Kazim Abbas Rizvi has named his partners, and we are conducting raids to find them. I assure you we won't let them get away."
Raid at MQM's office in Landhi
Earlier today, Rangers raided an MQM office in Landhi and claimed to have arrested two target killers while recovering Indian-manufactured Light Machine Gun (LMG).
A Rangers spokesperson said that political shenanigans would not stop Rangers from fulfilling their duty.
On the other hand, MQM held a press conference in Karachi where Raabta Committee member Dr Sagheer Ahmad denounced the raid and the Karachi operation as impartial and unjust. He claimed the Rangers to have taken away 15 MQM activists besides damaging and looting office equipment.
MQM called on the federal government and army to take over supervision of the operation.
COMMENTS (66)
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@iftekhar hussain: My Dear Sir,
I live in an area ruled rather fooled by MQM. I have lived for 30 years in karachi. I have witnessed harrassments with my own eyes its not easy. Tanveer Kazmi was karkun who killed three ANP workers in Yasinabad Akbar Hussain was a unit incharge who admitted dozens of murders on the orders of sector + Bhatta worth crores + Dacoities Asif Ahmed a Zimadar of the same area is involevd in dacoities robberies and killing Amir Bhai Join Sector Incharge a van filled with 100s of short range guns and bullets was recovered from his residency and then house involved in number of robberies and killing Akbar Banday Ali brother of MQM shaheed and hsi son Haider Ali who killed 13 and accepted before rangers later released as all eveidence was removed in the court. Hyder ali is still a MQM Karkun living on MQM Kaharcha in bahadarabad. Hashmi accepted 29 murders and is part of sector team
its not jsut story but fact i have seen with my own eyes about 70-80 such sio called welfare workers of awaam in water pump area, gulistan e jauhar, rashid m,inhas and now even in bahadarabad from wher ahlf of my family have moved out due to these people.
Allah sach samjhnay kee taufeeq day
shazim now in uae
@Aysha M: "There can be no piece in Karachi until the city is provided with indigenous policing"
As opposed to policing by Agra, Delhi and Bihar? Couldn't agree more!
Mohajirs are also Pakistani.Why do u call urself Sindhi,balochi,Punjabi,Pathan,saraiki. Eleminate differences first among later four.Then talk who is Mohajir? If you are not Mohajir then what u r sindhi,punjabi,pathan,balochi........?It is very easy to say I m Pakistani.But it doesn't work my dear.Don't write blindly.If u r here to make your better then choose another topic for your english.We are not competing a race with u.
@Aysha M: There can be no piece in Karachi until the city is provided with indigenous policing
indigenous? But then MQM call itself Mohajirs. You can't win both side of the argument
A native Pakistani whose parents migrated
State sponsored drama. Making MQM stronger in this city as we have been witnessing this drama for the last 22 years.
@M. Amir: Only u can think of it.Day dreaming does not cost any thing
Dear Mqm supporters our haters are in the habit of making a mountain out of a mole hill. Ignore them.they are incorrigible.
What can one expect from a terrorist party? the most hated party in Karachi, the biggest riggers and looters, cold blooded killers. These terrorists will try to jeopardize and defame honest officer like Shahid Hayat Khan, i request all the majority people who are sick of this party to eradicate such attempts to malign a super office like Hayat Khan who is taking these termites head on! First they did it with the Great Khan but failed miserably, the will again fail miserably!!!! INSHALLAH!
We all knew who the killers were. We need more of such Brave AIG's in Pakistan and less of such coward newspapers like ET who took a million years to take the name of MQM.
Why don't they find BLA or TTP using U.S and Indian weapons?
but who'll arrest Shahid Hayat, Ex IG Shoaib Sidal and others involved in Murtaza Bhutto murder and all these policemen are enjoying prestigious govt positions. Why rangers personnel freed who killed Sarfaraz? And Zafar Baloch killed openly in lyari by his own people but no action. I'm not saying MQM is clean but law should be same for everybody.
Brave man. God bless him. I proud of all soldiers who are cleaning KHI. As usual MQM will cry. Will PMLN Govt. protect MQM or not?
Wonderful tamasha once again now what is the proof that indian make weapons were found at mqm office.They cannot catch shah zain bugti who was caught with illegal weapon on camera, they cannot catch culprits who play foot ball with severed head of victims. Yes mqm walas easy target because they r not sons of soil what a heavy price we mohajirs have paid for creating pakistan lost status first clsss citizen ship in the whole of sub continent.
@Aysha M: If the police have tracked down and arrested a murderer, it should be welcomed by all peace loving citizens. The involvement of this criminal and his links should be explored including the source of his Indian weaponry. Does the MQM get Indian weapons from their relatives in India or are Indian agents actively supporting MQM to create mayhem in Karachi.
Farhan
Another gem from the deep state to malign MQM. It will also reach it’s logical conclusion.
That will be complete annihilation of MQM from my peaceful and beautiful city.
If you need peace and prosperity in Karachi. Terminate MQM immediately.
@Ali..Addl IG Shahid Hayat is the brave son of a brave man,involved in the murder of Murtaza Bhutoo when he was ASP sadar...he was acquitted in 2009 by Zardari...if he is so brave he should back to his own province and do operation against talibans..even in Karachi afraid to do operation against Talibans
@Ayesha M Hitler also had the people's mandate(elections of 1930's).
they were of the same confidence when they arrested Hashmi, lets see how far this goes?
crime rate in the city in increasing
these are just silly tactics to play blame game
the real culprits will never get arrested
people who have grudge against MQM should listen
slaining MQM wont improve law and order in the city
mark my words
It is evident from the chorus of comments that an army of paid commentators are doing their work quite efficiently against MQM.
@ali ahmed : I dont know whether you live in Karachi or not, every person living in karachi knows that MQM have terrorist groups, they enforce people to attend the speeches of Altaf Hussain at 'Nine Zero', if someone doesn't follow their orders this just fire you on spot or make you appear in their sector office. Entire karachi is divided into sectors by MQM and the sector incharge do have more command than a police station incharge of that area.
The entire karachi can be shutdown upon one call of MQM, you have seen this previously as their MPA was taken in custody for investigation.
Their seems to be a major force backing Altaf Hussain, and why can't this be India ? As Altaf will give RAW an opportnity and they will leave no stone unturned in hitting Pak.
@determined: he is a great man look at his past
Well Done. Get rid of this cancer.
@Farhan: This is for Mr Farhan Do you have any explaination regarding $600000 found in one if the houses owned by Mr Altaf in London? Why it was not in a bank account? Why it was sitting in cash form in the house ? I am sure you were not the owner of that money. How Mr Altaf earned this money? Did he pay tax on this money to British govt? FYI , Scotland Yard confiscated this money. I have not read any news that MQM did any thing about this confiscation or even protest eyed about it.
Naqal kay liyay bhee aqal chaheey -- how come MQM storing Indian made weapons when the whole city is over flowing with weapons from across the world. BTW weapons made in the Europe will be acceptable?
@Saaz: If MQM wants to or can kill his opponents, there are many others and more important ones before this AIG whose hatred towards MQM and its supporters is not hidden. But they are living in the same city and country with more freedom than MQM members.
Today's developments remind of 1992 operation with arrests of thousands of MQM workers, discoveries of Jinnahpur maps and police/agencies presenting their findings on TV with clear blame. Today, they discovered Indian army weapons from MQM offices. A few weeks ago, they arrested an MQM-MPA on an accusation. Similarly, they recently discovered a Muhajir Republic Army. Unfortunately, these agencies are so narrow-minded, or without any mind or full of hatred that they blindly follow an agenda and don't feel ashamed by repeating the same modus operandi after 20 years.
AfterJinnahpur, 19000 missing containers, Muhajir Republican Army, now we have Indian involvement and Randhawa killing case.
Another gem from the deep state to malign MQM. It will also reach it's logical conclusion.
Addl IG Shahid Hayat is the brave son of a brave man, Malik Shahid Hamid, MD KESC, who was trying to clean up the company but was murdered by MQM in Defence Karachi in 1997, the murderer was caught and was given death penalty by ATC and ALL courts have upheld the death penalty. The murderer's name is Saulat Mirza and he made confession of this murder and over 50 other murders including Hakeem Saeed. But the murderer has not been hanged till date.
For details see http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8721&Cat=13
i ll pray for you life AIG sahab! first time someone has given name to "na maloom afrad"
Dr Ahmed should give some explanation about the culprit who was caught relating to killing of Mr Randhawa. Rest is history. Can he also tell us how Mr Altaf HUSSAIN got that $600000 which was found in one of his houses in London and The Scotland Yard confiscated that money. Why MQM does not explain about that money?
@broken chooza...the day D.G.Rangers gave a false statement regarding missing containers in supreme court he became a controversial....only a fool will keep weapons and that of Indian made in office during on going operation...Rangers came out with great idea to prove his wrong statement...keep it up ...very soon people will hear ..Rangers arrested personal of Mohajir republican army personal..it seems we have not learned lesson from the past...The rangers chief should do his professional job without making political statements. Our law enforcement agencies are very brave in victimising political parties but want to negotiate with real terrorists.
Its no use. The PPP (amn committees) are just as bad as the MQM. If you remove MQM, they will have free hand to loot this city (10% style). Better to have the MQM and PPP fight each other until they both destroy each other.
Indian weapons were also mentioned, may be ET has missed it in love of MQM. Please give them a chance, they are not bias at all.
@Aysha M: What does people's mandate has to do with a political activist caught in a murder case?! The mandate is there, that does not mean an activist can't be involved in a murder case. Please stay relevant.
@mrs ahmed: so let it go to the courts before you churn your conspiracy theories.
Or just say MQM is a God-sent party of angels, messiah for the mankind, can do nothing wrong and it is just wrong to arrest one of your own (for investigation purposes even) because we happen to be divine.
Muttahida Quomi Mafia.
@Queen: Yes, totally fed up of cases such as nadeem hasmi where police was badly embarrassed and of course totally fed up of people's mandate being disregarded.
@Ahmed: confession under duress of police is no evidence , any one can say i did it but courts look at solid proofs i remember these kind of screaming allegation without substatiated proofs dies down , on one side MQM so hard core criminals and they were so silly that they had indian make illegal weapon in their public office MASHAALAH , rangers once again returned to 90s , but it is always Nine Zero gets exonerated .
@saeed: You are a little too obsessed with PTI buddy! Don't take it so emotionally hard ;).
@Ahmed..when you go through police brutality during interrogation....you will also accept all the killing in karachi
@Aysha M: Oh Come on Ayesha M. We are fed up of the situation. Please don't consider Karachiites as brainless people.
@Ahmed: Complete disregard to people's mandate is what is hollow. It is nothing but face saving after their poor performnace in the case of former MPA of MQM
@Aysha M: KESC chief Malik Shahid was murdered in broad day light .. the murderer, belonging to MQM, was apprehended and ALL courts have upheld the murder sentence. Must I remind you that back in the day Saulat Mirza made confession of this murder and also exposed MQM on how they targeted foreign nationals too in Karachi. How is that vindictiveness?
@Aysha M: you mean pieces of Karachi?!
A significant part of Karachi's population is in denial about MQM, has been so for more than 25 years.
There can be no piece in Karachi until the city is provided with indigenous policing
@Aysha M: Cry foul. Weren't it you who were advising people to wait for justice to take it's course. You have commented on this very forum several times along the line of...."if you have any evidence go to the police, register the case, where is the evidence?". Now that that has been done, you term it as a conspiracy, way to go. Urban feudalism at it's very worst. Wait for justice to take it's course and do away with you conspiracy theories.
People of Karachi know this since years..it is only media who is coward and don't have courage to say any thing against these killers..it is only PTI against whom media know how to attack and criticize because PTI dose not have a militant wing....hypocrites..and do publish this comment..moderator..
So "namaloom afraad" finally have an identity.
Any surprises ? 80% of the target killings in Karachi is done by MQM but no one takes action just like nothing happens to Jihadis in Pakistan. Small warning stunts will go into vain in a matter of days like always.
It is high time people of Karachi should stand against political parties who have made Karachi hostage of their militancy.
ET, you 4got to mention that INDIAN arms/weapons receovered 4m him, but why will you mention this?? since u r the biggest advocate of Aman Ki Aashaa.
MQM a victim of Police vindictiveness.
Finally, after 2 hours of coverage, ET decides to publish this story. Why are you guys so fast with anti-PTI writeups?
People of karachi brace for another day of strike and violence. The Karachi police will take two days before retracting their statements.Life Iin Karachi is so predictable. ...
Brave Man.... May Allah bless us all and keep us and these police men Safe.
MQM has changed their slogan from helpers to killers
shame on MQM. Stop this mafia. Enough of violence in Karachi. de weaponize your party and stop killing people and taking their income through 'bhatta'.
Sindh police AIG looks quite determined to end the mafia raj from our beloved city.
Now MQM will go hoarse crying "conspiracy" against them. And the drama will continue with Altaf Bhai addressing a late night jalsa, Governer Sind leaving for Dubai in the darkness of night and blah, blah, blah... Predictable and boring!
Great effort. Well done