In custody: Police arrest LeJ target killer

The suspect is allegedly involved in over two dozen cases of sectarian killings

KARACHI: Police officials claimed on Monday to have made a major breakthrough in over two dozen cases of sectarian-based targeted killings in the city by apprehending a member of a banned religious outfit.

The suspect arrested is also allegedly involved in the targeted killing of the son of Allama Abbas Kumaili, chief of the Jafaria Alliance Pakistan. The arrest of a member of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was disclosed during a press conference at the new Central Police Office complex in Saddar by the additional IG Karachi, Ghulam Qadir Thebo. Zone West and Central chief DIG Feroz Shah, SSP Azhar Mahesar and SP Ali Asif accompanied him.

While sharing details of the arrest of the suspect, Muhammad Nasir alias Qadri Sahib alias BBC, Thebo said that the accused was arrested by the Manghopir police. During initial investigations, the accused revealed his involvement in more than 25 cases of target killings of members of the Shia community.

Nearly half a dozen accomplices of the arrested suspect are also in jail. Their names are Kazim Ali Shah, Ahmed Hassan alias Mavia, Naeem Khan, Tahir alias Jimmy, Saud and Asim. "The people he killed along with his companions all belonged to the Shia community," Thebo explained. Most of the cases occurred in district Central, particularly in Rizvia Society and Gulbahar.

DIG Feroz Shah said that the accused also confessed to having killed Allama Akbar Kumaili, son of the Jafaria Alliance Pakistan's chief, who was shot dead in Bhangoria Goth in Azizabad along with his guard on September 2014.

Speaking to the media, Thebo said the police would also take action against people involved in giving financial support to these killers, including several seminaries that preach sectarianism. "We are closely monitoring the seminaries in Karachi and will take action whenever there is information," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2015.