Police officer among five arrested over target killings

KARACHI: Counter-Terrorism Department of Sindh police on Thursday announced the arrest of an on-duty police officer on the charges of taking part in targeted killings across Karachi including the May 12, 2007, carnage, ARY News reported.

According to SSP CTD Muneer Sheikh, the police constable who was posted in Additional IG Karachi’s office was a trained target killer and belonged to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

“He was a target killer before joining the police and was recruited in force on the same basis by MQM. He participated in the May 12 carnage during training and did other killings too,” said SSP CTD Muneer Sheikh.

Sheikh added that he took instructions from the political party’s South African setup.

Over 45 people were killed including lawyers and dozens wounded on May 12, 2007, when a political rally was held the day then Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry landed at Karachi airport to address the Karachi Bar Association.

Gunfights and clashes erupted across the provincial capital and the government machinery was used to block all major roads on the day.