‘Plot’ to kill Mirpurkhas jail inmate thwarted

KARACHI: An alleged plot to kill Salamat Lakho, a former local leader of a political party, inside Mirpurkhas Jail was thwarted after a major intelligence agency alerted authorities to the plan.

The assassination plot allegedly involved a local political figure from Mirpurkhas and some prison officials, according to a report submitted by the Sindh Prison Department to provincial authorities, and shared with The News by well-placed sources.

The political figure allegedly collaborated with two senior officers from the Sindh Prison Department, as well as three constables who were bribed to assist in the operation. In addition to the prison officers, a notorious drug dealer and target killer was enlisted for the job. He was assigned to carry out the killing, with help from two inmates who were already incarcerated in the same Jail.

Salamat Lakho was ordered to transfer from Hyderabad Prison to Mirpurkhhas Prison following an order by the DIG Prison, Hyderabad two days back. As per the orders, Salamat Lakho was moved to Mirpurkhas Prison. As he reached near Mirpurkhas, prison department authorities were ordered to send him back to Hyderabad prison.

Following the intelligence report, Sindh government authorities took immediate action. Syed Munawar Shah, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Sindh Prison Department in Hyderabad, was removed from his position.

He has been directed to report to the Inspector General (IG) of Prisons office until further instructions. Azeem Ghulam Qadir Thaibo, an Assistant Jail Superintendent of Mirpurkhas Jail, was suspended from his position.

Three constables have also been suspended due to their alleged involvement in the conspiracy.Salamat Lakho has been in Central Prison, Hyderabad, for the past 14 months. He had been charged in over 80 cases, including murder, attempted murder, terrorism, and other serious offenses. These charges reportedly stem from his alleged rivalry with another local politician. Lakho has been either declared innocent or granted bail in approximately 90 per cent of the cases. As of now, he is only confined to four remaining cases.

Sources in the Sindh Prison Department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that confidential intelligence reports had also uncovered communication between the involved politician and the prison officers. The conversations, which were reportedly carried out via telephones and WhatsApp, detailed the plans for killing Lakho. These revelations have added weight to the authorities’ decision to take swift action against those allegedly involved in the conspiracy.

Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are expected to look deeper into the connections and activities of those implicated in the plot.

DIG Prison Hyderabad Syed Munawar Shah told The News that he issued order to shift Lakho following a request of Hyderabad Jail authorities as he was disturbing the prison and creating law and order situation. He said he exercised his powers as per law.

Replying to a question, the DIG said that he was unaware of any murder plan, and also expressed his ignorance about any purported cause for his removal and other officers’ suspension.

This reporter approached IG Prisons Qazi Nazeer Ahmed and jail superintendents of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas prisons for their versions; called at their cell numbers, official numbers and also sent them detailed message on the issue, but till the filling of this news story, no one responded.