Police fail to press terrorism charges against Lamba
Source: The news
Thursday, June 25, 2009
By By Waqar Bhatti
Karachi
The police have failed to press charged against an alleged terrorist of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), Irfan Islam alias Irfan Lamba, who was announced as having been arrested by Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Sindh Police last week, The News has learnt.
Sources disclosed to The News that in reality, Lamba was captured in the first week of this month. Sources also said that Lamba, who was currently on bail from the court on a number of terrorism related charges, was picked up by the SIU prior to the date on which the police cell officially declared his arrest. However, even after several days’ interrogation, they failed to connect him with any terrorism-related activity in the city.
The SIU Chief SSP Raja Umer Khattab had told The News on June 17 that SIU and Sindh Rangers had arrested notorious LJ terrorist Irfan Islam alias Irfam Lamba from Orangi Town in a joint raid. He had maintained that Lamba, who is a wanted terrorist, is also included in the Red Book 2009 edition as well as on the police website.
“Instead, it was learnt that the alleged terrorist was involved in criminal activities, including armed robberies, since his release on bail but he had no connection with any extremist and terror group,” an official told The News on condition of anonymity.
It was learnt that Irfan Lamba was not even a die-hard LJ activist. When he was arrested and put behind bars, he came closer to other detained but genuine terrorists of LJ, who persuaded him to work for them.
“However, after his release on bail, Irfan Lamba remained aloof from the activities of LJ or banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and instead, started committing ordinary armed robberies with a criminal gang of Orangi Town” a member of his family stated.
Maulana Illyas Zubair, a leader of banned SSP, when contacted by The News, confirmed that Irfan Islam was arrested by the police much prior to the date of arrest being shown. He said that Lamba was not their worker, they investigated the issue as he was being portrayed as an SSP activist by the police.
“We are aware of the fact that he was arrested before June 17, but as he is not our worker, we did not contact the police neither did anybody approach us on his detention” he said.
He, however, claimed that it was a common practice to pick persons up weeks and months earlier, and then declare their arrests from other places, often after encounters with explosives and weapons. “Last month, CID claimed they have arrested Ghulam Nabi Sabzwai from Mauripur, Hawkesbay, following an encounter and recovered explosives and weapons from him” he informed.
However, Zubair claimed that Usmani, who was an SSP activist, was infact picked up from Sukkur much earlier than when his arrest was declared and he was booked in fake cases.
“CID claimed that Ghulam Nabi Usmani was responsible for bomb blast Cheesal Shah Shrine in the Jhal Magsi district, Balochistan. The said attack took place on March 19, 2005, in which 44 people died and over 55 were wounded” he said, adding that instead of booking him in that case, the police framed him in false cases.
An SIU official when contacted rejected all allegations of arresting Lamba prior to the announced date of arrest, saying that SIU and Sindh Rangers had arrested him from Orangi Town.
“He (Irfan Lamba) is wanted and known terrorist, who after getting bails in his previous cases, restarted his terrorism-related activities and was planning to carry out more,” he claimed.
The official said that an interrogation was underway, and after its completion, he would be presented in the court for police remand for further investigation. Currently, he is facing two charges of possessing illegal weapon and explosives.
The SIU official however deplored that they were not sure of putting the culprit behind bars for a longer period despite his crimes, saying that after presenting him into court, he would be set free latest by three months as such criminals often get benefits from lacunas in our judicial system.
SSP Raja Umer Khattab, the SIU chief could not be contacted to ascertain his version despite repeated attempts.
Meanwhile, Rangers spokesman Major Orangzeb said that he had no knowledge of any joint operation with the SIU or arrest of any terrorist belonging to LJ in that joint raid. “So far I have no information in this regard. As soon as I get the information, I would definitely share it with the media” he said.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
By By Waqar Bhatti
Karachi
The police have failed to press charged against an alleged terrorist of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), Irfan Islam alias Irfan Lamba, who was announced as having been arrested by Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Sindh Police last week, The News has learnt.
Sources disclosed to The News that in reality, Lamba was captured in the first week of this month. Sources also said that Lamba, who was currently on bail from the court on a number of terrorism related charges, was picked up by the SIU prior to the date on which the police cell officially declared his arrest. However, even after several days’ interrogation, they failed to connect him with any terrorism-related activity in the city.
The SIU Chief SSP Raja Umer Khattab had told The News on June 17 that SIU and Sindh Rangers had arrested notorious LJ terrorist Irfan Islam alias Irfam Lamba from Orangi Town in a joint raid. He had maintained that Lamba, who is a wanted terrorist, is also included in the Red Book 2009 edition as well as on the police website.
“Instead, it was learnt that the alleged terrorist was involved in criminal activities, including armed robberies, since his release on bail but he had no connection with any extremist and terror group,” an official told The News on condition of anonymity.
It was learnt that Irfan Lamba was not even a die-hard LJ activist. When he was arrested and put behind bars, he came closer to other detained but genuine terrorists of LJ, who persuaded him to work for them.
“However, after his release on bail, Irfan Lamba remained aloof from the activities of LJ or banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and instead, started committing ordinary armed robberies with a criminal gang of Orangi Town” a member of his family stated.
Maulana Illyas Zubair, a leader of banned SSP, when contacted by The News, confirmed that Irfan Islam was arrested by the police much prior to the date of arrest being shown. He said that Lamba was not their worker, they investigated the issue as he was being portrayed as an SSP activist by the police.
“We are aware of the fact that he was arrested before June 17, but as he is not our worker, we did not contact the police neither did anybody approach us on his detention” he said.
He, however, claimed that it was a common practice to pick persons up weeks and months earlier, and then declare their arrests from other places, often after encounters with explosives and weapons. “Last month, CID claimed they have arrested Ghulam Nabi Sabzwai from Mauripur, Hawkesbay, following an encounter and recovered explosives and weapons from him” he informed.
However, Zubair claimed that Usmani, who was an SSP activist, was infact picked up from Sukkur much earlier than when his arrest was declared and he was booked in fake cases.
“CID claimed that Ghulam Nabi Usmani was responsible for bomb blast Cheesal Shah Shrine in the Jhal Magsi district, Balochistan. The said attack took place on March 19, 2005, in which 44 people died and over 55 were wounded” he said, adding that instead of booking him in that case, the police framed him in false cases.
An SIU official when contacted rejected all allegations of arresting Lamba prior to the announced date of arrest, saying that SIU and Sindh Rangers had arrested him from Orangi Town.
“He (Irfan Lamba) is wanted and known terrorist, who after getting bails in his previous cases, restarted his terrorism-related activities and was planning to carry out more,” he claimed.
The official said that an interrogation was underway, and after its completion, he would be presented in the court for police remand for further investigation. Currently, he is facing two charges of possessing illegal weapon and explosives.
The SIU official however deplored that they were not sure of putting the culprit behind bars for a longer period despite his crimes, saying that after presenting him into court, he would be set free latest by three months as such criminals often get benefits from lacunas in our judicial system.
SSP Raja Umer Khattab, the SIU chief could not be contacted to ascertain his version despite repeated attempts.
Meanwhile, Rangers spokesman Major Orangzeb said that he had no knowledge of any joint operation with the SIU or arrest of any terrorist belonging to LJ in that joint raid. “So far I have no information in this regard. As soon as I get the information, I would definitely share it with the media” he said.
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