PML-N legislators from Faisalabad fear for their lives

LAHORE: The transfer of former CPO Faisalabad Suhail Tajik has sent chills down the spine of four sitting PML-N legislators from the city, who have been living under constant fear after the revelations by hardcore terrorist and target-killer, Ali Zahid alias Commando.
The Faisalabad Police arrested Commando from Hafizabad, while pursuing a kidnap for ransom case. Ali Commando had remained the right-hand man of SHO Madina Town, Faisalabad Farrukh Waheed. The said SHO had fled the country as well after the first member of this target-killers’ gang was picked up by the police. The Faisalabad Police has arrested eight members of this 12-member gang, so far. Ali Commando heads the gang.
The Punjab CM, during his visit to Faisalabad two-weeks back, stumbled upon a unique situation in a high-powered meeting when the party legislators raised the issue of life-threat to some members, especially the four already mentioned. The CM had to excuse the entire local bureaucracy for getting the firsthand information on the state of affairs. The legislators expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in this hub of the PML-N, revealing the city had become another Karachi with criminals getting protection by a political bigwig and how some members of the local police worked hand in glove with these gangsters.
The specific matter under consideration was the confessional statements of recently nabbed members of hardened criminals led by Ali Zahid Commando, whereby Ali Commando admitted having killed 19 people, including a local tough, Bhola Gujjar. This tough had proximity with a political giant from the city.
The eight-members of the gang already in custody told the police they worked in three groups with one set having expertise in target-killing, the second had the task of carrying out dacoities and the third focused on kidnap for ransom. The major cause of concern for them was attempts at the lives of Abid Sher Ali, Dr Nisar Ahmad Jutt, MPA Mohammad Jameel Shah and Malik Mohammad Nawaz. Ali Commando had confessed all these were the assigned targets of the gang.
It was learnt the CM wanted the name of the bigwig, who was, allegedly, patronizing these criminals through corrupt police officials. However, nobody revealed the name and Abid Sher Ali had to pass on a chit, listing the name of the big shot apart from other suspected police officials, including an SP.
The Punjab CM Mian Shahbaz Sharif promised all the legislators of the ruling party from Faisalabad `he would constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for probing the case at high level so any untoward incident could be avoided with regard to issue raised, especially the concern regarding the life-threat to four legislators — Federal Minister Abid Sher Ali, MNA Dr Nisar Ahmad Jutt, MPA Mohammad Malik Nawaz and MPA Mohammad Jameel Shah’.
The former CPO, with his reputation of a straightforward police officer, briefed the CM about the investigation conducted till then, besides revealing the names being extracted from these criminals during the course of investigations. The RPO Faisalabad Division, Ihsan Tufail was also present there.
The CPO also passed on the names of SP CIA Farooq Gondal, DSP Malik Khalid and SHO Mian Rafiq to the RPO along with the name of the man behind the entire network.
Interestingly, Jameel Shah made no bones about revealing the name of the big shot behind all this mess, saying he had survived five attempts on his life in the recent past.
The name of the `Godfather’ is deliberately not being mentioned, keeping in view the sensitivity attached to the matter and that the police have gone through the first round of comprehensive investigations so it would not be appropriate to mention his name till the investigation gets completed.
Interestingly, the main culprit, SHO Farrukh Waheed first went to Saudi Arabia after smelling the consequences of the whole issue. Sources said he was intentionally removed from the scene by the top people involved in this criminal activity because Ali Commando had remained with him as a private gunman till he fled after the arrests started.
Ali Commando has confessed that he had been used and assisted by some police officials, including Farrukh Waheed. SHO Waheed then slipped to Dubai, where, ironically, he stayed at the residence of very close friends of Malik Nawaz. This MPA got the names of all other senior police officials from his friends in Dubai, who visited Farrukh Waheed soon after he fled from Pakistan. Malik Nawaz handed over the names of those police officials to the CPO. Farrukh Waheed later moved to the UK. His brother has been kept in the police custody in Pakistan apart from confiscation of his assets.
Last Monday, all prominent MNAs and MPAs from Faisalabad attended the routine monthly meeting held for taking stock of the law and order in the division. The meeting got detracted when one of the MPAs raised the issue of Ali Commando, seeking the names behind horrific criminal activity.
Sources said the legislators also demanded implementation of the CM’s direction of constituting the JIT, which was to take assistance from the ISI and MI, besides other similar civil agencies. The two top police officials didn’t drop any name, while showing their inability (official constraint) in the commissioning of the said JIT since the matter was with the CM. Nevertheless, sources said, the names of the top influential culprit behind these gangsters and the conniving police officials were told to legislators at individual level during private meetings.
All legislators apprehended removal of CPO Suhail Tajik who had laid hands on these high-profile criminals. Suhail Tajik was transferred and made OSD on Monday. The legislators knew about the notification to this effect on Saturday.
Apart from this effort, the legislators decided to approach the CM for the formation of the promised JIT. The task was given to Mian Mohammad Farooq, MNA from Faisalabad. However, the CM is yet to meet them.
Sources apprehended there could have been very strong reason for the delay on CM’s part otherwise the plea could have been taken up instantly, keeping in view the CM’s resolve reflected in Faisalabad meeting.
When CPO Suhail Tajik was approached for version at his cell number 0345-9200*** several times, he did not respond. Many messages to his number went unanswered.
When RPO Faisalabad Ihsan Tufail was contacted, he said the CPO would have been in a better position to entertain all queries. He said he would ask him to take this scribe’s call, but Suhail Tajik did not respond.