Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday directed the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to crack down on criminal elements irrespective of their political affiliations and religious beliefs, as he was informed that the civilian law enforcement agency had been able to smash a hardcore criminal gang in Karachi involved in sectarian killings, including attacks on Sindh High Court Justice Maqbool Baqir and others. Last week, the prime minister had directed the IB Director General Aftab Sultan to help investigate the perpetrators of the attack on Justice Baqir and also trace the elements involved in Lyari unrest.
Sultan told the prime minister that the attack on Justice Baqir was codenamed “Operation Glorious Task” by the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) and their future targets included Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi and Shah Jee, who are both Shias.
“Following an actionable lead from sources, on the night of July 16-17, IB Karachi along with Sindh Police Southern carried out an operation and apprehended one Masoom Billa from Afra Garden, Karachi,” says the IB report presented to the prime minister, adding that the arrest was the biggest breakthrough in the case of attack on Justice Baqir.
As per the report, Masoom Billa alias Abu Bakar alias Zulfiqar alias Khahsar alias Saadullah revealed that not only he was the head of the LJ’s secret death squad he was also the executor of the bomb attack on Justice Baqir.
“During investigation, Billa revealed that Bashir Ahmed Leghari was the mastermind of the bomb attack along with Asif Chotoo, while Attaur Rahman alias Naeem Bukhari was overall head of the operation,” the report said.
Billa further told the investigators that Asif Chotoo and his accomplices Sajid and Qari Allah Dad participated in the attack. Naeem Bukhari addressed the participants through cell phone and the mobile SIM phones used in the attack were disposed off.
“Naeem Bukhari told us that Justice Maqbool Baqir must be killed and this team was designated for ‘Glorious Task’,” said Billa, disclosing that he snatched a motorcycle from Surjani Town and used it in the attack.
After it was decided that Billa would execute the attack, the motorcycle was prepared in the house of Bashir Ahmed Leghari and an adjacent empty quarter by Asif Chotoo and Sajid. The explosive material was fitted by Asif Chotoo himself in front headlight, body, tyres, silencer and backlight. Nut bolts and bearings were fitted in petrol tank. Afterwards one Yasiri, a rickshaw driver who was a team member, was used to transfer the bike to the attack site as the motorcycle could not be driven to the attack site.
“The remote control was handled by Billa while Asif Chotoo relayed information to Sajid about the arrival of Justice Baqar’s security entourage on a mobile phone. Finally on arrival of Justice Baqir, Billa pushed the button resulting in the blast,” the report said.
According to the report, Billa revealed that Qari Allah Dad had also tasked him to carry out the killing of Advocate Saqlain Kausar and anyone else in the car with him. “Billa, Sajid and Mursaleen killed Kausar and his two sons in the attack,” said the report.