Murderers of Shahbaz Bhatti known! One was released from interrogation by Pakistani anti-terrorism Court?!

Ilyas Kashmiri Group Plotted The Murder Of Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti – Interior Ministry

Friday 1st July 2011

Islamabad: Dr Paul Bhatti Advisor to Prime Minister on Minority Affairs and Chairman of The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) met with Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday at the Interior Ministry. Inspector General Islamabad Bin Yameen was also present in the meeting.

Rehman Malik reviewed the investigation report of the Shahbaz Bhatti murder case and directed IG Islamabad to move forward murder investigation with the help of the new leads.

A six-page report by the Ministry of Interior, based on the findings of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the assassination of former Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti revealed that the Ilyas Kashmiri group had crafted the plan to assassinate Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.

The group had planned to kill Shahbaz Bhatti with the help of Asmatullah Mawaia, the self-proclaimed leader of the Punjabi Taliban.

The report stated “The plan was executed by elements of Tehreek-i-Islami, coupled with the disgruntled lot of ‘Ghazi Force’ stationed at Islamabad”. Efforts to identify other executors are ongoing," it added.

The Joint Investigation Report revealed that a man calling himself Shabbir Haidri informed Advocate Tahir Naveed Chaudhry a Christian MPA from Punjab and a senior member of The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) an organization founded and headed by Mr Shahbaz Bhatti, by telephone claiming that he had information regarding the assassins of the former Federal Minister.

The report alleged that terrorists Umarul-Bashar and Ameer Mawia of Faisalabad and Abu Saeed and Tahirul-Hassan of Islamabad had executed the plan. They abided by the directions of terrorist Khilji of Ameer-i-Taliban.

The Joint Investigation Team, through its findings, learnt that the actual name of Umarul-Bashar is Abid Malik and he lived in Nai Abadi, Faisalabad. Abu Saeed’s actual name is Qari Ziaur-Rehman, also from Faisalabad. According to the findings of the report, both terrorists fled to Dubai, from Karachi via Sri Lanka.

The Joint Investigation Team also discovered that the actual name of Shabbir Haidri is Nazar Muhammad, a resident of district Narowal, and had been temporarily residing in Akhtar Colony in Karachi.

Shabbir Haidri was apprehended from Karachi and brought to Islamabad on April 24 for interrogation; however an anti-terrorism court ordered his release denying an extension of physical remand.

The report also claimed that as soon as the culprits involved in this high-profile murder are traced, investigation will be concluded on merit.

Dr Paul Bhatti told the Catholic Fides news agency “The investigations into the homicide of my brother are finally on the right track, it was committed by the Taliban and fanatics and now, we are waiting for the capture of the perpetrators, who are in Dubai.”

There were elements who tried to distort facts by suggesting that Shahbaz Bhatti was killed by those close to him, but, “the truth has emerged,” Dr Paul Bhatti stated.

“We were convinced that he had been killed for his work, for his defense of human rights and the rights of Christians. The investigation has proved us right,” he added

Dr Paul Bhatti called for a quick conclusion of the investigation and for the culprits to be arrested, which, he said, “would be a good sign for the rule of law in Pakistan.”

Shaheed-i-Haq Shahbaz Bhatti was a bold, committed and courageous activist who dedicated his entire life for the cause of the religious minorities of Pakistan; he fearlessly raised a voice for the rights of minorities, justice and religious freedom. He was murdered as he stood firm by his principle stand against the growing misuse of the Blasphemy Laws.

Police confirmed that the attackers fired at least 25 bullets at his vehicle as he left his mother’s home on the morning of 2^nd March 2011 in Islamabad.

A letter was found at the scene, from supporters of Al Qaeda and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claiming responsibility for the killing.

The BPCA is very concerned that one of the culprits of the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti was released from custody, despite it seeming from this report, that there was significant incriminating evidence.