India suspected to be behind attack on Tamba: Naqvi

LAHORE: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said India was suspected to be behind the attack on Amir Sarfraz Tamba who allegedly tortured to death an Indian terrorist Sarabjit Singh in jail in 2013.

“Police are investigating the firing on Amir Tamba and so far, they suspect India is behind it. India was involved in four other murder incidents on a similar pattern as well. However, it will not be suitable to say anything until the investigation is complete,” he said addressing the media at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) office in Lahore.

During a televised interview on April 5, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh admitted to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s policy of orchestrating killings in Pakistan. He said India will enter Pakistan to kill anyone who escapes over the border after trying to carry out terrorist activities in the country.

During the presser, Mohsin Naqvi said that steps were being taken to increase counters at the Lahore airport so that time taking immigration process could be made easier for people. He said that he had also talked to Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif in this regard, adding that electronic gates would be introduced so that passport scanning process could be done without immigration officer.

Regarding over billing of electricity bills, Mohsin Naqvi said that he had talked to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in this regard and he had assured that no pressure in this regard would be tolerated and extend full support to FIA to overcome this issue.

He said, “We have an evidence that 830 million units had been over billed in Lesco and FIA Lahore has done good job in this regard.” He said this over billing was done in government offices, industry and even to a common man who consumed only 300 units.

He said that the XEN had been arrested who used to over bill consumers using 300 units, adding that it was very unfortunate. The federal minister said that campaign against over-billing would continue till this practice come to an end and steps against over-billing would be taken across the country.

He said that as far as cyber side was concerned huge revamping would be carried out in the FIA on cyber side. Recruitment process on vacant posts in the FIA would be completed, he added.

He said that work against power theft was being carried out on a massive scale but still a lot more had to be done in this regard. The interior minister said that steps to overcome power theft in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be taken with the support of the Ministry of Power.

About human trafficking, Naqvi said that a lot of work was being carried out to stop it but more efforts were required in this regard. To a question, he said that there would be no political pressure in FIA.

He said that Sindh police were working aggressively against street crimes in Karachi. He said that there should be laws which could help to stop improper use of social media.

Meanwhile, police officials have confirmed Amir Tamba is alive but in critical condition at an unknown hospital. His brother Junaid said that he was unaware of the whereabouts of his brother. Earlier, his death was erroneously reported.

According to the content of the FIR, complainant Junaid Sarfraz said he lived on the ground floor of the house with his family, while his brother Amir alias Tamba lived in the upper portion. At around 12:40pm, two armed men entered his house, went to the upper floor and fired multiple shots at Amir.

He added that upon hearing the gunshots, he rushed upstairs and found his brother in a pool of blood. The masked shooter and his accomplice, who was wearing a helmet, fled the scene. They were riding a Honda 125cc motorbike and escaped. Junaid said the police were informed about the attack, and his brother was rushed to a local hospital with three bullet wounds.