Wali murder case: Security forces reach hideout five minutes too late

The main suspect of the murder case of Wali Khan Babar, crime reporter for a local news channel, has escaped the long arm of law enforcers who had raided his hideout, Pakistan Today learnt on Sunday.
The security forces received information that Liaquat, the main suspect in Babar’s murder case, had returned to Pakistan and was residing in an apartment in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Karachi. The law enforcers cordoned off the area and raided flat No B-7 of Pioneer Arcade situated at Maskan Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Personnel of the security forces had to break into the apartment because it was locked. “We found no one in the flat, but we have gathered a lot of important records regarding criminals in addition to some other sensitive documents,” said a security officer on the condition of anonymity. The watchman of the building, whom the law enforcers had taken into custody, confirmed that Liaquat used to visit the apartment often.
With the help of some other residents, the security forces detained two men, Adeel and Waseem, who were hiding nearby and shifted them to an undisclosed location for interrogation. “We have arrested two close friends of Liaquat who had been present with them before the raid. We have also confiscated some important files, sensitive documents and video recordings that were found in the flat,” the security officer said.
The detainees told the law enforcers that Liaquat had altered his getup and was using a vehicle bearing the government’s registration number plate with a man present with him at all times acting as his security guard. An officer said Liaquat had fled from the apartment merely five minutes before the raid of the security forces, which has led to some of them being questioned to find the mole who might have informed the suspect of the raid.
Liaquat’s vehicle was used in the murder of Babar who was killed on January 13 this year on his way home. Police had detained five of the 17 to 18 men suspected to be involved in the murder of the journalist from Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town. Faisal alias Nafsiyati, Syed Muhammad Ali Rizvi, Shahrukh alias Mani, Naveed alias Polka and Muhammad Shakeel were arrested with a snatched car.
The accused men had admitted their involvement in the murder and informed the police that Faisal alias Mota was the mastermind of the murder plot, whereas three others, including Liaquat, are still on the run.