HYDERABAD: An activist of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Khalil alias Bholu Khanzada, nominated in the Nov 18, 2020 murder case of Sindh Taraqqi-Pasand Party (STP) vice chairman Altaf Jaskani, was shot dead outside the sessions court in Tandho Allahyar on Friday.

Reports from the crime scene suggested that Khanzada along with his brother drove to the court on a motorcycle to attend the hearing of the case when a car carrying Jaskani’s brother, Asad, and his friends hit the two-wheeler. Khanzada tried to run to safety by entering the court but one of the car occupants shot him dead. According to the A-Section police, the man who fired on him was Asad Jaskani. They said other occupants of the car also fired multiple shots on Khanzada, adding that Asad Jaskani sustained bullet wounds in the shooting “by his friends from inside the car” and was later taken into custody. He was taken to the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH), city branch, for treatment, they said.

Bholu Khanzada along with his cousin, Zamir, and Aslam Rind — said to be the prime suspect in the Altaf Jaskani murder case — were nominated in the case after the Nov 18, 2020 murder in Tando Allahyar. Zamir and Aslam Rind are in police custody whereas Khanzada has been on bail in the case.

Police sources said that the district police had recommended the trial to be held in jail following altercations between the rival sides but the home department was yet to issue a notification in this regard.

Deceased STP leader’s brother killed the suspect before he suffered wounds in firing by his friends, say police

According to CIA official Aslam Langah, Asad Jaskani was found to be in possession of a Kalashnikov and a pistol. Two more suspects were detained by police in a raid on the residence of Altaf Jaskani and two weapons were seized from them, he added.

MQM-P lawmakers Rashid Khilji, Nasir Qureshi and others rushed to the Tando Allahyar hospital, where they spoke to the media and demanded arrest of all those involved in the Khanzada’s murder.

Meanwhile, Khanzada’s brother, Asif, has lodged an FIR against Asad Jaskani, his brother, Zeeshan Jaskani and an unknown suspect under Sections 302, 114 and 34 PPC. He stated in the FIR that Zeeshan had hurled death threat against him [Khanzada] during a hearing of the case some time back. He alleged that another man, Afzal Jaskani, had also attacked the deceased in court. “My brother had filed an application in in court as well in this regard,” he stated.

STP statement

STP chairman Dr Qadir Magsi in a statement condemned the “attack on Asad Jaskani and raids on the houses of STP activists in Tando Allahyar”. He recalled that after Altaf Jaskani’s murder, incidents of scuffle had occurred between Altaf’s brothers and MQM activists during hearings of the murder case in Tando Allahyar.

“On Friday, some armed men fired on Asad Jaskani and wounded him. Bholu Khanzada was killed in the shooting,” he claimed. He alleged that Asad Jaskani was denied treatment at Tando Allahyar hospital and some armed men held a sit-in outside so that Asad could not be transported to Hyderabad.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2022