KARACHI – Orders to kill journalist Wali Babar were issued by some “influential people” living in South Africa but who have connections in Karachi, according to a report prepared by a joint investigation team (JIT) probing the case and the five suspects that have been arrested thus far.
Babar was murdered in broad daylight on January 13, 2011, with former provincial home minister Zulfiqar Mirza assuring the journalist community that his killers will be nabbed.
Five men -Faisal alias Nafsiati, Syed Mohammad Ali Rizvi, Shahrukh alias Mani, Naveed alias Polka, and Mohammad Shakeel – were taken in custody some six days ago, and were being interrogated by a JIT comprising of senior officials from the Military Intelligence, Inter Services Intelligence, Rangers Intelligence, police officers of the Special Branch and Intelligence Bureau.
Those in custody revealed to the JIT that their group leader, Faisal alias Mota, received orders from a man named Agha to kill Babar. “Faisal Mota held meetings with us on several occasions and at different places to finalise the modus operandi of the operation,” the report quotes the accused as saying.
The strategy to follow and execute Babar was finalised in the group’s last meeting which was held at the KPR Society. “The house of the victim was constantly monitored, and he was followed to get an exact time of when he leaves home and when he returns,” the report details.
On January 12, the group also monitored Babar’s movement and noted the time when he left work and the route he adopted to go home. “The attackers wanted to finish off Babar the same day, but couldn’t do so since they lost him on his way home,” the report said.
The investigation reveals that on January 13, Mota received a tip-off that Babar was leaving work. The group leader then messaged Faisal alias Nafsiati, who was waiting at the Shaheen Complex intersection to tail him. Nafsiati was already manning the signal, but began following Babar’s car after receiving information. Other members of the group, who were stationed at different points along the route, also joined in and bided their time for an opportunity to strike.
“They finally managed to get a chance in Liaquatabad, where they intercepted his car, and shot at him several times,” the report claims, concluding that the attackers fled in separate directions as soon as their job was done.
At least 17 to 18 accused are suspected to be involved in Babar’s killing; the police are conducting several raids in an attempt to catch Mota and Zeeshan, both of whom are still absconding. Those arrested are said to be hardened criminals and involved in many cases of target killings and other heinous crimes.
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