A preliminary investigation into the murder of a seminary head in Karachi has revealed possible involvement of the Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), according to the police. Ziaur Rehman, the administrator of the Jamia Abu Bakr Madrasah in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, was shot and killed by unidentified assailants on Tuesday night.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East, Syed Irfan Bahadur, stated that the scholar was walking in a park near the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) office for his routine walk when the suspects opened fire. Rehman sustained critical bullet injuries and was rushed to Jinnah Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“It was a targeted killing incident,” confirmed the SSP.
An FIR has been filed by Rehman’s paternal cousin under sections 302 (intentional murder) and 34 (common intention).
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the murder.
In a press release issued by the Karachi police today, it is stated that “the incident is a terrorist attack that aimed to incite violence in the month of Rabiul Awwal.” Khadim Hussain Rind, the newly appointed Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG), has taken notice of the attack and requested a complete inquiry report from the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East.
The police chief has also ordered the formation of a team to investigate the incident.
“During the preliminary investigation, evidence of the involvement of the intelligence agency of our neighboring country, RAW, has been found in the incident,” added the press release from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).
This is the second murder of a religious scholar in Karachi within a week’s time. On September 6, Qari Khurram Shahzad, a seminary teacher, was shot and wounded in North Nazimabad and later died from his injuries. Two other teachers from the same seminary in the Mithadar locality were also injured in an attack by armed pillion riders.
In a separate development, the Punjab Inspector General (IG), Dr. Usman Anwar, recently revealed the existence of a “network of hostile intelligence agencies” allegedly involved in recent incidents of blasphemy across the country.
The Karachi police had earlier detained an alleged Indian spy and his local accomplice in Lyari last month.