KARACHI - Police yesterday claimed to have arrested a target killer after an encounter in Federal B Industrial Area.
The detained hitman, Wasi Haider, was wanted in killings of noted personalities from political parties, religious groups, judiciary and law enforcement agency, the police said.
“Wasi came from Hyderabad in 2002 and joined a political party in 2004. He has owned up to his involvement in one-and-a-half dozen high-profile cases,” Federal B Industrial Area SHO Naeem Khan said.
According to the police, the detainee confessed to killing a religious scholar, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai on May 30, 2004. Shamzai’s son, his nephew and chauffeur sustained serious wounds when Wasi unleashed attack in front of their home a few yards from Jamia Binoria in Jamshed Town.
The killing created chaos in the area where Shamzai’s followers fell into rage and damaged public property including Quaid-e-Azam Academy, Jamshed Quarters police station, two banks, 20 vehicles and a filling station.
The police said the arrested also admitted that he had assassinated Jamia Binoria Uloomia vice-president Mufti Abdul Majeed Deenpuri two years ago. Deenpuri’s colleague and a seminary student also came under the attack on Shara-e-Faisal near Nursery on January 31, 2013.
SHO Khan said Wasi confessed that he had killed inspector Nasirul Hassan and his guard Khurram Butt. Wasi told investigators that he had killed a court official, Bashir Ahmed, and three businessmen for defying extortion in Lines Area, the cop claimed, adding that he also murdered Muhajir Qaumi Movement workers and banned Sipah-e-Sahaba supporters. Police officials also claim to have recovered hand grenade and a pistol from his possession.
Separately, four suspected sectarian killers, also involved in murder of senior journalist Aftab Alam, arrested. Alam was gunned down a couple of days ago near his home in Sir Syed locality. Police sources said that the suspects have been arrested from an apartment of Iqbal Plaza at Nagan Chowrangi.
An anti-crime operation has is in full swing in the MQM-dominating capital of Sindh. MQM, which is being run from the UK, has been making a litany of complaints that its workers were being targeted only.