Caught at last: Police nab serial killer behind restaurant attacks

The accused is involved in dozens of targeted attacks, which have claimed over 20 lives .

KARACHI: The city police claimed to have arrested an alleged serial killer who they believe is behind the recent attacks on shops and restaurants in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

Zafar was arrested from the premises of Jinnah International Airport on Saturday. According to the police, the suspect was involved in dozens of targeted attacks on medical stores and food joints, in which over 20 people lost their lives. All of the attacks were carried out late at night, forcing the police to ask businesses to close shop before midnight.

Following Zafar’s arrest, the police believe that the threat to restaurant owners in the area has decreased substantially. They have, however, yet to decide whether to allow businesses to run until late at night. “Though the danger has decreased after his arrest, we will wait for orders from our superiors regarding the decision to allow businesses to remain open till late at night,” DSP Nasir Lodhi told The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, the court has remanded Zafar to police custody till March 19 for interrogation. The police have registered a case on behalf of the state under the charges of murder and attempt to murder.

On the other hand, residents hope that, with the assailant behind bars, the police will now let the food centres operate till later into the night. “We used to frequently visit the restaurants in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and would sit there till late at night. After the attacks, however, we avoided them,” Younas Hameed, a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, told The Express Tribune.

According to DIG East Munir Sheikh, the accused used to kill people for money. Police suspect that the man is suffering from psychological problems as he had issues with his wife and parents. He is a graduate of University of Karachi and was married but his wife left him over familial disputes.

Zafar confessed to his crimes before the police, claiming that his socio-economic condition had persuaded him towards a life of crime. He also accused his parents for his shift towards crime and told the media that he had decided to become a criminal after his wife left him.

Shiekh told the media that most of Zafar’s attacks were carried out in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, New Town, Aziz Bhatti, Ferozabad and Gulistan-e-Jauhar. He used to survey the vicinity before carrying out each attack, using a stolen Liana car which he used with a fake registration number plate.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2014.