Naimat Khan
KARACHI: Police on Monday claimed to have killed a terrorist, who was the cousin of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Chief, Mulla Fazlullah, and one of the attackers on Malala Yousufzai.
Khursheed, cousin of TTP chief, was among four terrorists associated with Swat Chapter of the Afghanistan based Pakistan’s terror outfit, who were killed in a shootout at Super Highway area of the Seaside Pakistani metropolis of Karachi.
Senior Superintendent of Police Malir Rao Anwar – a notorious cop famed for staged encounters – said the alleged terrorists were killed during a raid on tip-off regarding the presence of members of the proscribed Ansar-ul-Sharia Pakistan (ASP).
Anwar claimed Khursheed has been involved in various incidents of terrorism, including the attack on education activist Malala Yousafzai and attacks on law enforcement personnel.
Earlier, the same police official claimed to have arrested father of one of the assailants, who killed a policeman and child in fail life bid on leader of the opposition in Sindh assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan on Saturday after he offered Eid prayers.
The shootout that occurred in Kaneez-e-Fatima neighborhood left one policeman killed and another seriously wounded. The accused Abdul Karim Saroosh Siddiqui managed to escape despite being hurt. The accused is ex-student of Applied Physics department in Karachi University, police official informed and his ID cards confirmed.
According to the SSP, the suspect was identified as Abdul Karim Sarosh Siddiqui, a central commander of ASP and a dangerous militant described as the mastermind of the attack on Izharul Hassan.
He is said to be a close friend of another suspected militant, Hassan, who was killed during the assassination attempt on Izharul Hassan.
Meanwhile, chief minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that he would conduct security audit and students verification in each and every educational institute to ascertain if they are breeding terrorists.
“It is quite painful to see the highly educated persons involved in terrorism,” he said and added “academically we would have to review our education system to make it more efficient and simultaneously we would have invest in cyber system to keep necessary checks on social media which is importing terrorist proclivities through wire services,” he said.
Syed Murad Ali Shah said that his government has given ample security to MQM leaders and other important personalities and “I have requested Khwaja Izhar and Faisal Sabzwari to review their security arrangements and then let me know if some extra measures are required,” he said and added he would ensure proper security for MQM leaders and others.
He said that terrorism is a national issue and we would have to formulate a comprehensive policy to fight against the menace. “How you can imagine that when you would return from offering Eid Namaz terrorists would target you,” he asked and said “the attack on Izahrul Hassan was an attempt to create fear and insecurity in the city but Almighty Allah kept him safe,” he said and added “even then it [attack] caused loss of life in which one constable was killed and lap of a mother turned barren.
He said that the planning of attack on Izharul Hassan must have been made out of this city and may be out this country. Murad Ali Shah added that the Sindh government had sent a list of 94 madaris to the federal government with the request to put them on schedule-IV but they did not bother and then we requested them to at least keep watch on them but even than they put deaf ears towards our apprehensions. “Now, the results of that default are very much clear,” he said.
Replying to a question, the chief minister said that the provincial assembly has enacted a law to keep record of the people coming from other areas. “This is a cosmopolitan city where people of different languages and areas and even from other countries live,” he said and added “sometimes you do not know who lives in your neighbor but we are trying to keep the record.
Izharul Hassan told the media that it was the prayer of the people which saved him. He urged the people to pray for the constable and the child who killed in the attack.
Latter, the chief minister accompanied by PPP leaders, Leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly Khwaja Izharul Hassan went to the residence of Mohammad Kmran, the father of Arsal killed in the attack, and offered condolence. He assured him that the killers of his son would be brought to book. “I would be in touch with you and support you whatever you need,” he said.
It may be noted that Mohammad Kamran had also sustained a bullet injury in the attack and was shifted to Aga Khan Hospital for treatment and about an hour before the arrival of the chief minister he was discharged from the hospital.
Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General of Police A.D. Khowaja said that the attempt on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan’s life was “part of a conspiracy to mar Karachi’s peace”.
The IG also said that police have identified one deceased suspect involved in the attack, calling it”headway” in the ongoing investigation.
