Man wanted to meet Mufti Taqi Usmani caught with dagger

KARACHI: A man who wanted to meet prominent religious scholar and Vice President Darul Uloom Korangi, Karachi, Mufti Taqi Usmani, was caught after a dagger was found in his possession during the early hours of Thursday morning at the seminary.

Police investigators did not find any concrete evidence that could suggest that it was a ‘preplanned terror attack’ but it seems that the suspect was suffering from psychological problems.

Police have taken his custody and initiated further investigations to ascertain the facts and the suspect’s motive. “He (suspect) came and asked me to talk privately. As I got close to him for a talk, suddenly, he brandished a knife but people surrounded me and timely caught him,” Mufti Taqi Usmani in an audio message confirmed the incident.

The police initial investigations suggest that the suspect did not attack Mufti Usmani and had simply sought a meeting with the scholar after the Fajr prayers. Korangi SSP Shahjahan Khan told The News that the security guards found the dagger in his possession during a search. The security guards caught him and later handed him over to the police.

“The suspect apparently had no malicious intent,” Korangi SSP Shahjahan Khan told The News. “We have also met with his doctor who is treating him for psychological problems for the last few years and the suspect was also taking medicines.” He was also said to be under the influence of ‘black magic’.

The officer said no case has been registered and nothing could be said exactly until the investigations were completed while the police have also sent the dagger recovered from the possession of the suspect to the forensic division of the Sindh Police to ascertain either the dagger was poisoned or not.

The 35-year-old, Asim Laiq, is a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Karachi. While defending himself, he said that he only wanted to meet Mufti Taqi Usmani about a domestic issue, and had tried to approach Usmani to ask him to pray for him.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed phoned Mufti Usmani to ask about his well-being. In a tweet, the minister said he was “deeply concerned” over the “attack” on the scholar.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan leader Qari Muhammad Usman condemned the incident and demanded the government to ensure proper security arrangements for religious scholars and leaders. He said that over 10 months have passed but the assassins of Maulana Adil Khan were yet to be arrested.

The Awami Colony police station registered an FIR against the suspect. According to initial investigations ‘the suspect is suffering from psychological problems’. According to police, ‘a dagger was recovered from his possession but no malafide intent could be established at this point’. Further investigations are continuing.