Syed Hammad Raza - Conspiracy

Conspiracy

Chaudhry has been at the centre of a judicial crisis since Musharraf decided to sack him months ago over undisclosed allegations of misconduct. Analysts speculated Musharraf’s motive is aimed at removing a possible obstacle should his plans for re-election run into constitutional challenges. Hammad was briefly detained on March 9, the day Chaudhry was suspended, Malik said. Supreme Court’s additional registrar Syed Hamad Amjad Raza was shot dead by four men who broke into his house before dawn on Monday. Talking to Dawn, a police officer claimed that the murder had been committed by robbers, but Mr Hammad Raza’s widow Shabana, a witness to the killing, said it was a target killing. She alleged that the government and agencies were involved in the murder.

She said that she saw several policemen lurking around in the lawn of her house when she ran out crying for help, but they did nothing to catch the culprits. She vowed to do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice. Her brother, Abid Hussain Shah, also insisted that it was not a case of robbery, because nothing had been found missing from the house, except two cellphones. “It’s a target killing and a message to judges,” he said. Soon after the murder, judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, visited Mr Raza’s house and, taking suo motu action, ordered the Inspector General of Police and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Islamabad to appear before the court on Tuesday.

Additional questions about the killing were raised again when it was disclosed that three policemen were deployed at Raza's house on security detail. Ms Raza said that when she ran downstairs screaming for help, there were policemen on the front lawn who did nothing.

According to reports, Raza had told family and friends he had been summoned by unidentified investigative agencies "trying to get information about the alleged 'wrongdoing' of the chief justice. His contention was that, yes, he would stand witness, but not for any party, only for truth and justice."

Pakistan's security agencies have a notorious reputation for their alleged involvement in the so-called "disappearance" of political opponents of the Government. Chief Justice Chaudhry, before he was declared "non-functional", was in the forefront of dealing with complaints to the Supreme Court made by the families of so-called "disappeareds".

Last night's developments came as a full bench of the Supreme Court was due to make a second attempt to begin consideration of the case brought against the Chief Justice.

An initial attempt to begin proceedings was thwarted when one of the 14 judges set to hear the case, Falak Sher, declined to take part.

Security Insiders Claim Musharraf is responsible for the murder as he was carrying out cleanup operations and hence the Chief justice and Hammad were an Obstacle to his Re-Election and the special Complaints Cell of the supreme Court was also administered by Hammad. Hammad had compiled evidences regarding Steel Mills Case, Missing peoples files and several other miscarriages of justice by the government. All the Missing peoples Files were also kept by him and some of Hammads journalist contacts in media are rumoured to have copies. It is rumoured that some Senators and ISI contacts loyal to the General also tried to Offer Hammad Promotions and Bribes to provide false evidence and testify against the Chief Justice or help in recruiting Justice Iftikhar into the Musharraf camp, unfortunately his honesty was the reason for his demise and Pakistan lost an invaluable son to Corruption.

Government insiders also claim that Ex ISI Chief Ijaz Shah's name is constantly linked with the Investigation and then swept under the carpet, "It smells of his Operation", whether directly or indirectly he is involved. Ijaz Shah in recent times has been known to be Musharraf’s right hand man and has been rumoured to be involved in all his Covert operations that made him widely unpopular, Missing Peoples case, Sacking of Chief Justice, Syed Hammad Murder case, Indian terror attacks etc. naming a few. Ijaz Shah has been rewarded generously since his allignmnent with Musharraf and is currently residing in Australia – Sydney after initially having his residency rejected due to terror links. The source further added since ISI are involved this case like all important cases will never be solved.

Three people are in custody over the murder of Syed Hammad and the person who ordered it according to the Accused has vanished. Ex DSP Mir Afzal is the name they are mentioning and it seems that either he never existed or has vanished like so many middle men Spooks before him, Mir Afzal is the stumbling block if we find him the investigation will reach the next level of the pyramid.

“We will supervise the police investigation and will take care of the family,” Justice Javed Iqbal told reporters. “Law and order is deteriorating in the country and it is a moment to think for everybody,” he said. IGP Iftikhar Ahmad told Dawn that a seven-member police team had been constituted to investigate the murder “on different lines to the previous assumption of Robbery”.