Cyber crime accused’s remand extended

KARACHI: South Judicial Magistrate Asif Ahmad extended the physical remand of an accused held in a case of cyber crime till February 14.

Police presented the accused and requested for his physical remand in police custody, maintaining that this would help in the inquiry about his accomplices and the instruments used in the crime. A FIR, no 01/2009, was registered against the accused, Syed Asif Ali Shah son of Mubarak Ali Shah. The state, through Inspector Zafar Iqbal of the FIA Karachi Cyber Crime Circle, is the complainant in the case.

The complainant informed the court that they had received a written complaint from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Deputy General Manager Electronic Solutions. The PIA official had said that PIA was finding it difficult to maintain transactions and was suffering from huge financial loses at the hands of fraudsters who were involved in the issuance of electronic tickets. “Unknown people were issuing e-tickets through the website for domestic and international sectors with different passengers names against stolen credit cards,” the complainant quoted the PIA official.

He maintained that the payments of such transactions made on stolen credit cards were declined by the issuing banks and resulted in PIA incurring financial loses. The crime is punishable under section 7,8 and 9 of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Ordinance (PECO) 2007.

Meanwhile, District and Sessions Judge South Abdul Naeem Memon issued non-bailable warrants of 3 police officials of Frere Town for not complying with the orders of the court. The court had earlier served several notices to DSP Asghar Ali Shah, TPO Azad Khan and Inspector Nasiruddin for appearance before court but they failed to abide by the orders.

Rape victim says his life has been ruined

By M. Waqar Bhatti

Khalil Ahmed, the person who was allegedly abducted by three women from Clifton and subjected to sexual harassment says the incident has not only destroyed his social life but also caused him emotional, physical and monetary harms and losses.

“I am in immense pain, both physically and emotionally. I have lost my job, and have been told to take complete bed rest by doctors. Meanwhile, I have no money to spend on treatment and fulfill other basic needs,” he told The News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

Twenty-two-year-old Khalil Ahmed, son of Muhammad Hussain Bux, was reportedly abducted by three women in Clifton and was sexually assaulted for many days while being kept in illegal confinement at an undisclosed location.

The Boating Basin Police registered a case against unidentified women for abduction, illegal confinement and torture but they are still clueless about the culprits while some investigators are also expressing doubts at the events narrated by Ahmed.

For Khalil Ahmed, who belongs to Tehsil Ahmed Pur Sharqia of Bahawalpur, Punjab, skepticism expressed by police officers as well as his friends and relatives is proving to be another dilemma and source of mental torture for him.

“Worst of all, when people say that I’m telling lies as no such incident took place or I’m a male prostitute, it hurts the most. Media persons, police investigators and my acquaintances have so many conspiracy theories that I can’t even think of,” he deplored.

Recalling the course of events on January 27, 2009, Khalil Ahmed says when the women sitting in a Suzuki car near the hotel, where works as waiter in Caf? Al-Hafiz in Clifton, asked him to go along them to see their residence, it was monetary greed which compelled to go with them. “I earn Rs200 as daily wage and get Rs200 commission on the sale of food worth Rs1,000. At that time, I thought I would get another 200 rupees by delivering meals to those women, without knowing that my greed would destroy my entire life,” he said.

According to him, he is married but his wife has not been handed over to him as her Rukhsati has not been carried out yet. “I have been getting signals that this event could also result in end of my marriage even before I could see my wife,” he says.

According to him, doctors have asked him to take complete bed rest for at least six months and avoid indulging in sexual intercourse or he could become impotent for the rest of his life.

“Those three or four days were the filthiest and most abhorrent period of my life and now sex has become a loathsome act for me. My internal and external reproductive organs are still aching even after the passage of nearly two weeks of this incident,” he said.

On the other hand, Medico legal officer Nisar Shah who conducted the clinical examination of the victim at the Civil Hospital Karachi says that the condition of the victim at the time of examination proved his story as he was passing blood with urine while his reproductive organ was also swollen.

“But I doubt this story and it is the responsibility of the police to probe whether he was abducted and kept in illegal confinement or not. Once it is established, the rest is an easy job,” he said.

He, however, said that the chemical examination of victim’s blood and urine samples had not been carried out yet to ascertain whether he was given any tranquilizers and drugs but said these tests could be done at any moment.

Shabir, the owner of the restaurant Caf? Al-Hafiz where Ahmed used to work also doubted his story and said that it was fabricated.

“We have never heard any such thing happening here. He is befooling us and the entire nation just to get famous and earn some money but he would not succeed in his tactics,” he claimed.

On the other hand, the police are still clueless about the culprits who abducted Ahmed but said that they were trying their best to solve the mystery. “He has given us the registration number of the vehicle, which is not complete. He neither sure about the make, model or colour of the vehicle used in the abduction nor about the place where he was taken,” an investigator said on condition of anonymity.

He said that the police had registered a case under sections 342, 243/34 of the PPC and 337 of Qasass and Diyat Ordinance, which relates to abduction, illegal confinement and torture.

Justice (retd) Khawaja Naveed when contacted said there was no special section in the PPC which defines such crime but said police could register a case under the Hudood Ordinance. “It is a form of adultery and the Hudood Ordinance could be the most relevant law to define the nature of the crime. However it is up to the police as to how they take the issue and register a case,” he said. (The News)

Protest against abduction of wife, 3 daughters: Man attempts self-immolation

A man tried to commit self-immolation outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) protesting against the abduction of his wife and three daughters.

Qasim, a resident of Surjani Town, tried to set himself on fire while protesting against the abduction of his wife and daughters by abductors who are now demanding Rs 500,000 as ransom money for their release.

Qasim alleged that Hafeez and Majeed kidnapped his wife and three daughters. He said that Hafeez and Majeed are brothers and belonged to Multan while adding that Hafeez use to work at his brick kiln.

He stated that Hafeez is openly moving around while the police are not taking any action against him. He alleged that Hafeez abducted his wife and daughters for money and has taken them to Multan. “Hafeez abducted my wife two years ago and since then I have no news of her whereabouts. After that, he abducted my eldest daughter, Shazia, 19 and forcibly married her,” said Qasim. “Then he abducted my two minor daughters, Shaheen, 7 and Nazia, 9. I paid Rs 65,000 to Hafeez for the release of Shaheen and Nazia. They were released a few months ago but now Hafeez has kidnapped them again and this time he is demanding a sum of Rs 500,000,” said Qasim.

“I cannot arrange such a huge amount of money as I have already sold my plot and brick kiln for the release of my daughters. I had lodged an FIR about the abduction of my wife and daughters at the Surjani Town police station but no action has been taken,” added Qasim.

He said that a local trust is helping him recover his wife and daughters. “Despite repeated application being sent by them to the Multan DIG and the Punjab chief minister, nothing has been done so far,” said Qasim. (DT)

Acid victim dies after 25 days in hospital

KARACHI, Feb 10: Maria Shah, the 22-year-old midwife from Shikarpur who suffered extensive burns last month, died here on Tuesday morning — nearly a month after acid was thrown on her face by a man whom she had refused to marry.

“Ms Shah’s whole body was affected by acid burns. Despite our best efforts, we failed to save her life,” said a senior official of the Civil Hospital’s Burns Centre, where she was admitted on Jan 16.

“The body was formally handed over to her family. They returned to their home town in an ambulance provided by the hospital,” said Dabeer-ur-Rahman, Executive Director of the Burns Centre.

“The victim was brought to the hospital in a very critical condition a day after the incident.”

Ms Shah’s face was disfigured after acid was hurled at her by Arsalan Sanjrani at a private clinic in Shikarpur where she had been working as a lady health worker.

Initially, the young woman was taken to a local hospital, which later referred her to the Burns Centre.

According to Arsalan, he was a matriculate and in love with Maria since school days. He claimed he provided her free rides to school for years on his rickshaw. He said he committed the crime after she refused to marry him.

The Supreme Court has summoned Shikarpur DPO Khadim Hussain Rind to appear before it “with facts”.

BURIAL: Maria Shah was buried in Shikarpur’s Chiningi graveyard on Tuesday night.

A large number of relatives and social workers attended the Namaz-i-Janaza.

Talking to newsmen after the burial, Baqar Shah, Maria’s father, said that in the beginning ministers and NGOs helped in providing medical treatment.

But after the first week, no attention was paid to the regular supply of medicines.

Baqar Shah recalled, with irony, that the government had assured him of financing her treatment abroad. He said that Marya would not have died had she received “proper medical care”.

The SHO of the police station concerned said there was no need of a fresh FIR, adding that an interim challan would be presented in a court soon.

Marya Shah’s family has called upon the government to hang Arsallan Sanjrani. (Dawn)

Court orders shifting of Kalia, Khanani to hospital

The Additional District and Session Judge, South, issued orders to immediately shift Javed Khanani and Munaf Kalia to a hospital for a medical check-up and submit a report to the court for the compliance of the orders on February 24.

The Jail Superintendent (JS) appeared in the court on Monday and said that Javed Khanani, one of the directors of Khanani and Kalia group, had been provided medical treatment inside the court. The court expressed annoyance at the JS asked him to shift the directors to a hospital.

The Defence counsel earlier filed an application in the court that his client was a heart patient and needed complete treatment. The court subsequently ordered a medical check-up in the hospital, but the superintendent of the Central Prison Karachi failed to comply with these orders.

Police restrained from arresting couple: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has restrained the police from arresting a couple till further orders.

Seema submitted that she married Abdul Ghafoor on September 6, 2008, but her family members did not accept their marriage and registered a false kidnapping case against her husband at the Sachal police station in January this year. Seema sought protection for her husband and requested the court to quash the FIR against her husband and her in-laws.

The SHC’s division bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Arshad Noor Khan, after preliminary hearing of the petition, issued a notice to the Advocate-General for February 16 and in the meantime restrained the police from arresting the couple.

The same bench also disposed of a petition of a couple with directions that the petitioner may not be harassed by the police. Abdul Ghafoor submitted that he married Shahnaz on December 13 last year but his in-laws registered a kidnapping case against him at a police station in Khairpur. Shahnaz’s brother refused the claim of the petitioner and submitted that Abdul Ghafoor kidnapped his sister who was already married to a man named Murad Ali. He requested the court to send the girl to Darul Aman and said that Abdul Ghafoor should be handed over to the police for further investigation.

The court, after hearing the case, directed the Additional Advocate-General to record the statement of the petitioners with the direction that they would not be harassed while the police may complete the investigation.

Detention case: The SHC adjourned the hearing of a missing person’s case at the request of petitioner’s counsel who said he would file an affidavit regarding the arrest of detainee.

Petitioner Mohammad Abrar Khan submitted that his son, Sarfaraz Khan, was picked up by law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) near Dhabeji on October 17 last year when he and his friend Arif Khan were on their way to the Makli police station to identify culprits who attacked him. The petitioner said that LEAs released Arif but shifted Sarfaraz to an undisclosed location. The petitioner expressed fear about his son’s life. The court was informed that the police had shown the arrest of the detainee in Rawalpindi. The petitioner’s counsel sought time to file an affidavit in this regard.

Three men linked to Ajmal Kasab held in Karachi?

KARACHI: Intelligence agencies have detained three men in Karachi over their alleged involvement with Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. A source privy to the matter disclosed that intelligence agencies had taken the men into custody from different areas of Karachi in connection with their alleged affiliation with Kasab.

They were reportedly taken to Islamabad and an investigation was in progress. The relevant officials refused to comment when contacted. The source claimed the arrests were made by the Federal Investigation Agency in collaboration with other intelligence agencies. (Daily Times)

Sweet mart chain drops `Karachi' from name

MUMBAI: Fearing an attack from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists, the management of the Punjabi Chandu Halwai Karachiwala chain of sweet
shops has dropped `Karachiwala' from its signboards. The chain has 21 branches across the city.

"We don't want to take chances,'' one of the managers said. "After we learnt about the Mulund incident, where the owner of Karachi Sweet Mart was threatened by MNS activists, we decided to take precautions,'' he added.

"Who wants to invite trouble? If there is stone pelting on any of our outlets, it will affect our business,'' said a senior official from a Chandu sweetmeats shop. "We are a known brand. It is a temporary measure. If the issue dies down in the coming weeks, we may bring back Karachiwala on our signboards.''

MNS activist Shishir Shinde said he was not against any sweetmeat shop or its owners. "We don't want to bully or harass any shopkeeper. We are only opposed to the use of names of Pakistani cities in Mumbai,'' said Shinde. He added that the MNS would request other establishments such as cable companies, jewellery designers, restaurants, marriage halls, general stores and export houses to avoid using names like Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Peshawar.

"Pakistan has been responsible for several bomb blasts and more recently, the terror attack on Mumbai. The key accused, Ajmal Kasab is from Pakistan,'' he said. "Those who migrated to India after the partition, are now Indian citizens and should cut off all links with Pakistan,'' he added.

However, a Congress corporator said, "The names of the shops or establishments which are being targeted have become brands over the past few decades. It makes no sense forcing the owners to drop words like Karachi or Lahore. The MNS should catch those who are involved in anti-national activities and spare the innocents.''

8,445 women victimised in country last year: report

KARACHI: In the past nine years, violence against women has seen an increase with more and more Pakistani women being victimised, revealed Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid (LHRHA) President Advocate Zia Awan.

Addressing a press conference at the LHRHA run Madadgar Helpline Trust office, Awan said that data compiled since 2000 showed a sharp increase in the incidents of crime against women in Pakistan with 8,445 reported cases of female victimisation in 2008. According to Madadgar data, 67,706 women abuse cases have been registered between the years 2000 and 2008.

Karachi turned out to be a major hub of anti-women activities with 13,613 cases being registered that included murder, rape, torture, kidnap, karo kari, Hudood, trafficking, Vani Sawara as well as forced marriages between the years 2000 and 2008.

Talking about the arrest of the rapist gang from Clifton, Awan said, “So far thirty six victims have come forward to us against this gang of rapists who were busted by the police recently,” while imploring other victims to come forward.

He said that the number of reported cases is hardly
10 percent of the actual incidents that take place while inviting academics to come forward and investigate whether the numbers had increased because of incidents or whether the media was able to report more due to the freedom and exposure.

Awan asked the United Nations to take notice of the increase in the instances of violence against women saying that though Pakistan is a signatory of CEDAW, a lot has been left in terms of protecting women and safeguarding their rights.

“A major surgery needs to performed in all institutions, be it the judiciary, police and the administration so that the life and right of people especially women in the society can be protected,” said LHRHA president Awan.

Talking about ways to curb crimes against women, Awan said that each province should have a complaint cell to assist victims, as the process of registering an FIR is a cumbersome process. He also said that women police officers should be given the task to deal with cases pertaining to women as well as suggesting the appointment of women ombudsmen.

He also said that the database at Madadgar maintained not only the list of victims but also the abusers and perpetrators of heinous crimes so that they could be identified. Addressing a press conference, Madadgar Helpline Head Tahmeena Naseem Shah said “There is a marked increase in women abuse and the numbers in NWFP and Balochistan are way higher than the numbers in Sindh and Punjab but due to the fear of reporting these incidents, the figures remain low.” Tahmeena also added that Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad and Sialkot proved to be violent cities for women, making Punjab the worst in terms of protecting the rights of women with Sindh following behind closely.

Ali Mohammed Hajyano’s statement startles investigators

White Corolla car case seems to have been worse than feared

The statements of Ali Mohammed Hajyano, accused in 32 FIRs of various crimes including murder, dacoity, burglary and sexual abuse, have left police officials startled over the viciousness of his crimes.

Policemen investigating what is known as the White Corolla car case, because this was the automobile that was used in most of the crimes, are startled by the manner and brazenness with which these crimes were committed allegedly by Hajyano, officials said.

Hajyano not only robbed several families and couples but in many instances abused the women present at the scene of the crime.

Investigators probing Mohammed Ali Hajyano said that there were about a total of 32 FIRs registered against the accused persons at various police stations of Clifton Town. Twelve cases were registered against them after their arrest.

Murder case: They have also been arrested in a murder case committed in the jurisdiction of the Boat Basin police station. Hajyano has been identified in more than 10 cases so far. In many other cases, victims are afraid to come forward owing to the brutality of the crimes.

In a statement given to investigators, Hajyano said that he was a resident of Defense, was born in Karachi and had studied till Intermediate. He is married and his wife is a doctor, and he has one son.

Moreover, he further disclosed that about two years before he had had an affair with a woman to whom he claimed he was an army officer. He was arrested by the Darakhshan police at the time while wearing an army uniform but was later bailed out. Following this incident, Hajyano went to Saudi Arabia but returned within a year. On his return, he decided to turn to robberies and crime. He met with a man called Umair Khan, a mechanic by profession.

For their crimes, they selected a white Corolla car which Umair hired from a shop in Defense. According to the statement, in March 2008, the men were roaming in Defense and hijacked a couple in a Baleno car and at gunpoint robbed cash and jewelry and assaulted the man and threatened him.

After three days, Hajyano and his accomplice again rented a Corolla and this time robbed a girl along with her mother but did not assault them. In this crime, they adopted the idea of wearing wigs and hats to protect their identity. This disguise continued.

Soon after, however, the crimes turned vicious when the duo trapped a couple outside a foreign fast food chain in Defense and robbed them. This time, Hajyano sexually abused the man’s wife, according to the statement that he gave investigators.

Moreover, using the same white car, they hijacked two girls along with their car in Phase 2, DHA and snatched their purses and jewellery and fled.

Two days later he again used his white Corolla, changed its original number plate, and robbed three cars with couples and looted cash and jewellery.

In the third incident, they robbed a young woman who was driving alone in her car at Khayaban-e-Ittehad. The two men forced their way into the girl’s car, looted cash and jewellery and then Hajyano sexually abused her, according to the statement.

Two days after this offence, they went to the Sea View area and forced a woman driving a Cultus car to stop and kidnapped her. They then sexually abused this woman, investigators quoted Hajyano as saying.

Robbery spree: After a few days, he, along with Umair, went to Defense after changing the car’s number plate again. They then moved towards the Marina Club. Here they saw a couple sitting in a car. They snatched the couple’s purses, jewellery and cellphones. On the same day, they also robbed another couple at Sea View and also snatched their laptop computer and a gold chain.

On the same day, in the Sea View area they stopped a car in which three women were sitting and looted gold bangles and chains and fled. Later that night, they had robbed a couple with children sitting in their jeep behind the Misri Shah Shrine in Defence.

Three days after this offence, the duo again went to Sea View, where they saw a couple sitting inside a car. In this instance, they forced the man into the Corolla at gunpoint and then proceeded to abuse the woman. Not content with this act, they then committed another robbery soon after, investigators said.

Hajyano’s detailed statements make chilling reading. A couple of days after their night of repeated crimes, they went to Defense and while driving saw a couple along with their children in a car. The two criminals stopped the car and looted the family.

On the same night, a short distance from the place, they robbed two aged women sitting in their car. They then saw two men and a girl in a Mercedes car, and robbed them too.

In his detailed statement, Hajyano said that two days later, he along with Umair went to Defense after changing the number plate of the car and stopped a car in DHA, Phase-VII and robbed a couple and fled.

On the same night, they went to Phase-II and looted two girls returning from their tuition center and also snatched two laptop computers before fleeing. On the next day, in the same area, he stopped a car in which a girl was sitting and sexually abused her.

Two days later, in Darakhshan area, Hajyano signaled a car to stop. When the driver did not comply, Hajyano shot at the car. He then robbed the occupants. Nearby he saw a white Corolla car in which a woman was sitting. Hajyano forcibly entered the car and assaulted the woman.

Murder of Eunuch: In September 2008, the duo shot a eunuch. Mistaking him for a girl, they approached and pointed a pistol at him. On seeing the pistol, the eunuch fled but Hajyano opened fire, which led to the eunuch’s death.

In a statement given to investigators, Hajyano said that in every sexual abuse case, he committed the offence and his accomplice, Umair, had no interest. Umair’s duty was to change the number plate of the car. He would do this by removing the number plates of cars in parking lots and affixing them to his car.

The robbed jewellery was sold by Hajyano when he went to Sarafa Bazaar, Saddar, in a Mercedes car.

Hajyano’s luck finally ran out, however, when he was robbing a girl in front of the Nisar Shaheed Park, when a police mobile van caught him after an encounter.

Women rights groups have called for exemplary punishment for Hajyano while his father contends that Hajyano is innocent and is being tortured by the police.

Cantt Station on candid camera

By Asadullah

The Pakistan Railways has introduced a much-needed security feature to the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station, and the close circuit television (CCTV) network has been made functional with the proper installation of 26 cameras.

The Karachi Cantonment Railway Station, which also enjoys heritage status, has been equipped with a CCTV network after having a control room established within the police help centre at the station. The Railway Police have been tasked with monitoring the eight platforms of the station, hosting arrival and departure of 48 trains every 24 hours.

“The CCTV franchise operation has been under way since January 17 under railway police supervision,” a senior railway police officer told The News. “We are now monitoring the station with 26 cameras, including a high-speed dome camera installed in the parking lot of the station.”

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Railway Minister, had told the media that CCTV cameras would be installed at the Karachi, Rohri and Lahore railway stations in the first phase.

Pakistan Railway authorities, however, took time to come up with an authentic answer to the CCTV project when they finalised the bids for installing cameras. They managed to fit cameras at different points, but these remained idle due to the paucity of trained hands in the control room.

Sources said that twelve police constables and six female constables have undergone a six-month training period to work in the CCTV control room in eight-hour shifts round the clock. “We have enough memory for 25 days of video footage,” explained a police officer. “The 26th day will automatically erase the first day’s memory and record over it.”

Sources said that the installation of CCTV cameras in Karachi, Lahore and Rohri at an accumulative cost of Rs10.5 million is part of a greater security and surveillance project, which will also cover railway workshops, to have a check on theft and employees’ presence. Walk-through security gates have already been installed at the Karachi Cantonment Railway Station.

Sources informed The News that the Pakistan Railway headquarters in Lahore have finalised the CCTV Network at three railway stations, including Karachi Cantonment, in the first phase of the security measures to be taken at railway stations and trains across the country. Lahore-based Champions Traders has installed the cameras at Karachi, too.

“The high-speed dome camera installed at the parking lot of Karachi Cantonment Railway Station is unique amongst the cameras installed to cover eight platforms,” observed a police officer. “This particular camera can be rotated as per your requirement, enabling you to keep a watchful eye on the huge open space around the parking area.”

According to Baqar Gilani, the Station House Officer of the Karachi Cantonment Railway Police Station, the establishment of CCTV control room under the railway police’s supervision is indeed a right step toward improved policing at the century-old railway station where 90 percent of the up-country railroading originates.

Within the Cantonment Railway Police Station’s limits, the theft of railway material and property tops the incidents of crime, followed by pick pocketing and luggage-lifting.

“Another most serious crime that we deal with is poisoning of people in a bid to rob them,” said Gilani.

No official, including Muzzafar Ali Sheikh, Railway Police SP, could confirm the cost of the cameras and other necessary arrangements that have been made to finalise the CCTV network. Mir Mohammed Khaskheli, Divisional Superintendent Railway Karachi, appeared ignorant as far as the actual cost of the CCTV Network at Karachi alone was concerned.