LeJ's Abbas Arrested for Quetta Killings

[TruthSeeker]

‘Mastermind’ of sectarian killings held in Quetta

By Malik Siraj Akbar, Friday, November 13, 2009

QUETTA: Police on Thursday claimed the arrest of a top Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) terrorist wanted in 16 cases and for the murder of 28 members of the Shia-Hazara community in target killings in the provincial capital.

DIG (Operations) Shahid Nizam Durrani said police had arrested Hafiz Muhammad Usman Muhammad Shahi alias Abbas, considered one of the masterminds of 28 sectarian killings. He said Abbas had also revealed important details of recent sectarian killings, in addition to providing information on his accomplices in target killings. “Abbas also provided information that helped us find a Kalashnikov used in sectarian killings.”

The arrested Lashkar activist has also confessed to being involved in the murder of Hussain Ali Yousafi – chairman of the Hazara Democratic Party, who was gunned down in Quetta on January 26, 2009.

Around 200 people in Quetta have fallen victim to target killings over the last six years.

“Following the information provided by Abbas about his colleagues, police are planning more raids in Bolan, Mach and Naseerabad districts with the hope to bust the gang involved in sectarian killings in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. A team of senior police officers is investigating the matter,” said the DIG, adding that DCOs had been directed to provide Quetta police fresh lists of terrorists as part of efforts to expedite operations against those involved in target killings.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan