Police remain clueless in PSP man’s murder case

Police officials investigating the Monday night murder of Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) national council member Adeel Habib Khilji, who was also a member of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, are yet to make progress in the case.

Khilji was gunned down near the Sarena mobile market in North Nazimabad. Despite the passage of a day, the Taimuria police, in whose jurisdiction the murder was committed, have not registered a case.

“We are waiting for the family to file a complaint,” said SHO Rao Nazim. “The victim’s head of the family, Haji Abdullah, had been in Dubai, which has caused a delay in the FIR’s registration.”

The police have no idea about the motive behind the killing or how to trace and arrest the perpetrators — not only in the PSP leader’s case but also in the previous incidents of seemingly politically motivated crimes committed in the past three months in Karachi.

“We don’t have a lead [in the PSP leader’s murder case], as we didn’t find any CCTV footage or eyewitness,” admitted SHO Nazim. “Now we’re focusing on getting technical assistance.” Police said that the empties of the 9mm and 30-bore pistols used in Khilji’s killing are yet to be despatched to the forensic division for ballistics cross-matching. “Unless an FIR is registered, the police cannot send the empties to the forensic division,” said an officer.

Recent wave

“The mystery behind the recent wave of political violence is yet to be solved,” a senior police officer told The News. “We are confused if it’s a tit-for-tat situation or a third force is behind this.”

Talking about the attack on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s office in New Karachi a few days ago and the PSP leader’s murder, the officer said they were different from the other incidents that occur in the city.

“The culprits usually use 9mm or 30-bore pistols, but these two cases were different from the others because sub-machine guns were also used in these incidents.” Khilji lived in SITE Area’s Metroville neighbourhood. He was in the plastics business. He was affiliated with the PSP and serving as a member of the party’s national council.

He had contested the 2018 general elections from the PS-122 Manghopir constituency. His funeral prayer will be offered near his residence on Wednesday (today). Police said that a case is likely to be registered after the funeral prayer.