Journalist Imtiaz Mir was killed in Karachi by extremists over alleged pro-Israel remarks. Sindh Police arrested four suspects linked to the banned Zainabiyoun Brigade, who confessed to the murder ordered by a handler abroad. Investigators confirmed their involvement through ballistic evidence
Representational Image. File Pic
In a surprising incident, a journalist was killed in Karachi by activists of an extremist Islamist group. As reported by news agency PTI, the extremist Islamist group has allegedly killed the journalist after he made pro-Israel comments on his television channel, according to the Sindh province home minister.
As per PTI, four suspected militants were arrested for murdering journalist and anchorperson Imtiaz Mir, who was gunned down on September 21 as he left his office in the Malir area of Karachi.
Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjhar further claimed on Monday that the slain journalist was targeted because the killers regarded him as an alleged sympathiser of Israel and for his comments.
Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon and city police chief Javed Alam Odho, while highlighting this unfortunate incident, told the media that the four arrested individuals had confessed to carrying out the killing on the orders of their handler, who was based outside Pakistan.
The Inspector General said, “The arrested suspects are 'educated' individuals, and their ringleader is living in a neighbouring country,” as cited by news agency PTI.
The suspects were identified as Ajlal Zaidi, Shahab Asghar, Ahsan Abbas and Faraz Ahmed and are said to be associated with 'Lashkar Sarullah', which is part of the banned Zainabiyoun Brigade.
The Inspector General of Sindh Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, further said that two federal intelligence agencies had jointly worked with Karachi police during the investigation, and all the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the murder.
The senior police official further added that “one of the suspects also had a previous criminal record”, as cited by news agency PTI.
Moreover, IGP Memon also stated that spent bullet casings recovered from the crime scene in Kala Board, Malir, had matched with pistols seized from the custody of the arrested suspects.
In a different incident, Pakistani security forces on October 22 killed a terrorist and injured others during an intelligence-based operation in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the anti-terror operation, the agencies recovered weapons, explosives, and communication devices.
As reported by news agency PTI, “The operation was conducted in the Bajaur district of the province. It was part of ongoing efforts against an outlawed militant group operating in the region, said one of the officials.
Security forces launched the operation in the Shahi Tangi forest, where the militants were reportedly hiding in a cave. A militant was killed following an intense exchange of fire between the terrorists and the security personnel. Other terrorists were injured but managed to flee.
(With inputs from PTI)
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