By S. Raza Hassan
The investigators are still groping in the dark in their efforts to gather evidence to shed light on the spate of killings.—AP/File
KARACHI: The Karachi police seem to be going nowhere regarding investigations into the targeted killings of political activists that have lately plagued the city, as the investigators are still groping in the dark in their efforts to gather some kind of evidence to shed light on the spate of killings, it has emerged.
More than a hundred activists of political parties have been gunned down by unidentified suspects – often described by government functionaries as ‘terrorists’ – since the beginning of the year in different parts of the city.
The targeted killings have largely remained confined to the areas of New Karachi, Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony, Liaquatabad and Malir.
Police at present have only the spent bullet casings on hand as the sole bit of evidence; a careful examination of the casings by ballistics experts could suggest a pattern behind the killings.
‘It could either suggest that a variety of weapons have been used in the targeted killings or if the same weapons have been used in the killings,’ an official said.
Similarly, there are no eyewitness accounts in the cases of targeted killings as even those people who have seen something are unwilling to come forward to record their statements fearing possible repercussions.
‘Witnesses are hard to find even in a simple murder case; finding a witness in politically-motivated targeted killings is quite impossible,’ remarked an investigator.
He went on to add that even the families of most of the victims are quite fearful and appear not very keen to pursue these cases.
They pointed out that in most FIRs only unidentified suspects have been nominated.
Officials said that three teams – consisting of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell, Special Investigation Unit and SSP Zone East Investigation – were assigned the investigation of the killings.
When Dawn queried some officials of these investigation units for details, the officers seemed reluctant to divulge any information. Some denied they had been assigned the investigation while others said there had been ‘zero progress’ in the investigation.
‘We are simply counting the toll,’ remarked a senior police officer of the Zone East Investigation.
‘We have all the details of the youths who have been involved in the targeted killings, but political considerations and constraints have deterred us from picking up the suspects,’ Capital City Police Officer Waseem Ahmed told Dawn.
‘We have collected the empties from the crime scenes of these targeted killings and are analysing them for a pattern of the weapons used,’ the city police chief added.
He pointed out that in June, 47 activists were killed while up till July 12, 21 activists had been gunned down, bringing the average killed to eleven per week.
The CCPO claimed that the police had improved their intelligence gathering and had already collected the profiles of the suspects said to be involved in the targeted killings.
The city has been witnessing an increase in targeted killings since May 2009. On June 8, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani dashed to Karachi, taking stern notice of the killings when the death toll from the violence had reached 22.
On June 9, the prime minister chaired a meeting on law and order in the city and left for Islamabad thereafter.
However, his visit failed to stem the violence as the killings continued, with the toll reaching 65 on June 1 as claimed by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi.The party claims that around 125 of their activists have been gunned down during the current year.
However, data obtained by the Karachi police shows that since January 2009 a total of 91 activists of different political and religious parties have been killed in the city.
According to the data, 48 activists of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi have been killed, 20 activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, eight of the Pakistan People’s Party, six of the Awami National Party, three of the proscribed Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, two of the Pakistan Muslim League-N and one each of the Sunni Tehreek, Jamaat-i-Islami and the Ahle Hadees group.
DAWN:Thursday, 16 Jul, 2009
Government issues new directives
By Salis bin Perwaiz
Karachi
Despite the introduction of several policies crime remains rampant in the city. Meanwhile, the city is consumed with news of target killings of political activists along with armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom.
The passing week began with a wave of target killings as unidentified terrorists took the lives of more than 13 activists belonging to various political groups including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqiqi). The killings took place within a span of only two hours.
Killings reported in Landhi, Model Colony, North Karachi and other parts of the city, have been targeting activists who have already submitted apology letters to their rival groups while leading peaceful lives with their families.
A senior officer on condition of anonymity said that, the incidents of target killing has severely tarnished the image of Karachi police, however, what can officer do he asked, when he does have the orders to arrest the culprits. Explaining the speedy work of the police intelligence which helped save the life of an activist being targeted the officer lamented that though they had the names of suspects who had killed the political activists, still the police did not receive the directions for their arrest. Moreover, in many cases the families of the targeted persons also refuse to lodge complaints or nominate suspects due to threats by the concerned groups.
Recently the Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited Karachi and conducted several meetings with senior officers of Police and Rangers and had issued strict directives. Some points of the meeting are, Pakistan Rangers Sindh have been given enhanced powers to control law and order along with the police to take preventive measures for controlling law and order. Moreover, Elite Forces from police and rangers will be deployed at all vulnerable points which have recently been the focus of violence. Vigorous patrolling will be undertaken by law enforcing agencies with immediate effect.
Moreover, the ban on pillion riding shall continue, and no one shall be allowed to display weapons in any part of Karachi, furthermore, no private search or checking or private patrolling shall be allowed and citizens have been urged to share information about the target killings with the police.
Officials said that, from the past many years mostly during the Year-2000 era many of the officials and officers of Sindh Police Department have been targeted who had took part in two Karachi Operation Cleanup and still their criminals were not arrested by any department of police, moreover, during the meetings, the officers usually informed seniors that the weapon use in the target killing is same or the bullets are same but none have disclosed the names or groups who had killed them.
Presently the Interior minister once again directed the Provincial Police Officer Sindh Babar Khattak to form a committee with further directions to conduct an inquiry through DIG Police into the target killings of Police Officials and submit a report within four weeks.
Moreover, he announced that a judicial commission shall be appointed to probe the recent target killings with a view to identify the real culprits. Officials added that, after the probe report, who will take action on the report, as before that several inquiries were conducted but still they were pending for action and shifted to old records.
Moreover, before the before the culprits are held accountable for the target killings of police officers and political activists , the senior ministers should take the officers into confidence so that they are not victimised when the incumbent government dissolves.
Moreover, in the recent meeting of Senior Police officials of Sindh Police and Pakistan Rangers Sindh the interior minister also allotted more powers to the Rangers Sindh and directed them to launch a crackdown against criminal elements who are involved in target killing cases, furthermore, the police was directed to work with Rangers as supporters and provide men and material and work jointly.
Sources added that, committees have been formed by both rangers and police and now they are busy selecting officers, interested in the crackdown against the criminal elements, with the expectation that the crackdown would begin in the coming week.
salisperwaiz@gmail.com
The News: Friday, July 17, 2009
