Kazmi was an SHO at the Preedy police station and was killed in a targeted attack in the Garden area. The incident took place when four men on two motorcycles started following him as he was heading home in Garden Police Family Quarters.
The police have obtained footage of the killing via CCTVs. "In the footage, we saw that four young men were waiting for Kazmi outside the police station," said Preedy police station DSP Iftikhar Lodhi. "They started following him as soon as he left. One of the four men shot at him when he slowed down for a turn."
The deceased was shot at six times with a 9mm pistol. The police have collected empty bullet shells from the crime scene as evidence. Police officials believe that Kazmi could not protect himself even though he was armed as the assailants were well trained .
The SHO had been provided with a police mobile for security but at the time of the incident he was travelling alone in his own car. Police officials claim that Kazmi left without police protection of his free will.
A day before the attack, Kazmi had participated in an operation against encroachment at Empress Market and its surrounding areas. According to the police, there could be several motives behind the murder, including a sectarian aspect or enmity with a political party. They added that they were investigating the case. No case was registered till the filing of this report.
The man in uniform
Kazmi was a senior officer of the Sindh police. He joined the force in 1984 and has served as head of a number of police stations in the city, including Azizabad, Sharae Noor Jahan and Baloch Colony. He has also worked for the Federal Investigation Agency and the Anti-Car Lifting Cell.
He played a vital role in the Karachi operation during the early 1990s. At the time, he was serving as the head of the Azizabad police station and was considered a close aide of inspector Zeeshan Kazmi, who gained popularity during the 1992 operation, Murtaza Bhutto murder case and was killed in 2003.
SHO Kazmi was one of the few remaining officers of the police force who had participated in the 1992 operation.
Kazmi leave behind a widow and a daughter. The funeral prayers were offered at Police Headquarters, Garden and was attended by large number of senior police officers including the IGP, Additional IGP Karachi. The family has not decided if he will be buried in Karachi, or his hometown Multan.
The raids
Raids were conducted all over the city to apprehend the people behind SHO Kazmi's death. The police managed to detain more than 50 suspects in connection with the case and have taken them to different police stations for further interrogation. Their families held protests outside police stations for their release. The family members claimed that their loved ones were not involved in the attack.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th,2014.
COMMENTS (7)
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May my father's soul rest in peace. He was the most honorable person I knew. The most caring. The most loving. The police officers are working quite hard to pursue them. Hope they do well and fast. Pray for my daddy.
R.I.P.
took part in 1992 operation and tribune points out towards MQM, biased reporting. @Asif you are bluffed
@Asif: Nothing in Pakistan is so simple. It may appear so, but it may be not. The killing may have been perpetrated precisely because the usual suspects will come to mind. Like it happened with you.
"SHO Kazmi was one of the few remaining officers of the police force who had participated in the 1992 operation"
Well this line tells the whole story!!
"According to the police, there could be several motives behind the murder, including a sectarian aspect or enmity with a political party." In other words, Police has no clue AT ALL. Go ahead, torture innocents to elicit a confession, and their sons will kill more Police to avenge the deaths. The beat goes on.