Policeman linked with al Qaeda on VVIP duties

Tribune

LAHORE: A police official, having established links with the al Qaeda terror network, had been assigned security of VVIPs in Lahore many times in the past.

Sources said the police official had served at the Prime Minister House in Lahore and at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Punjab’s office in Lahore.

Intelligence officials said that the police official was a resident of Rawalpindi district, but he managed to get a domicile of Lahore district and was recruited in the Punjab police on the basis of the forged domicile.

The police official had been assigned the security of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the then-chief minister of Punjab. However, he was suspended when spy agencies established his links with al Qaeda. He was also detained by security agencies for questioning.

Ironically, he not only got back his job after some time but was also assigned the security of the Prime Minister House in Lahore and the FIA Punjab office till December, last year.

Subsequently, the FIA banned his entry into its offices, but surprisingly the police brass is still reluctant to take action against the police official notwithstanding his established links with al Qaeda.

The FIA Punjab’s office in Lahore was twice targeted by terrorists in the past and officials keep receiving threats of more attacks.

Taseer's assassination probe: Two police officials suspended

Tribune

ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI: The Superintendent Police (SP) headquarter Rawalpindi on Friday was asked to give a detailed explanation for ignoring a letter indicative of a potent threat to Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer as two other police officials were suspended during probes in thelate governor’s assassination.

A letter had reportedly been sent to the Rawalpindi police from Lahore indicating that the murderer Mumtaz Qadri did not have the security clearance for VIP security. The letter, officials say, did not reach the concerned authorities in time.

Resident Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi Mukhtar Gondal has suspended Inspector Khalid Satti and Sub-inspector Ajaib of the security branch. The SP headquarter has also been ordered to give explanation in this regard.

A three member inquiry team constituted by the Punjab government also arrived in Islamabad to conduct its probe into Salmaan Taseer’s assassination.

The team will record the statements of Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri and other officials of his security convoy. Police officials who recommended Qadri’s inclusion in Taseer’s security convoy will also be questioned. The team will visit the murder spot at Kohsar Market in Sector F-63.

Meanwhile, the medical board conducting Qadri’s check-up has found no marks of torture on his body. The board has handed its report to the police and the district administration.

A psychological checkup by a five-member team of doctors headed by Dr Tanvir Khaliq was also carried out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad on Thursday. The doctors declared Qadri mentally fit.

The medical board is expected to re-examine Qadri again in five days.