Ex-Pak Army official-turned al-Qaeda hitman may be set free over lack of witnesses

Islamabad, Feb 28 (ANI): Alleged al-Qaeda member Major Haroon, accused of murder and kidnapping for ransom, may be released soon after most witnesses and complainants withdrew their testimonies.

Major Haroon quit the army in 2002 in protest against former President Pervez Musharraf's alleged pro-American policies. He then allegedly joined the al-Qaeda.

The Sindh Home Department had earlier sent a letter to the home department of Punjab requesting for Haroon's transfer from Punjab to Sindh over fears that he could be released.

Haroon, along with two other co-accused, is presently imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat jail on charges of killing an administrator of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Dr Abdul-Saboor Malik, in Lahore. He is also accused of being involved in the kidnapping case of prominent businessman Satish Anand.

The paper quoted police and prosecution department's sources, as saying that the trio is being tried by the additional and sessions judge inside the prison because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Before being shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, they were in Adiala Jail for their alleged involvement in the murders of Major General (retd) Ameer Faisal Alvi, his driver and a passer-by in 2008.

Sources familiar with the high-profile murders said armed men wanted to kidnap Dr Saboor for ransom and they killed him when he resisted. Similarly, Alvi was also gunned down by men who intercepted him for kidnapping.

The investigations of Saboor's murder case have revealed that the accused were tasked to kidnap prominent people because the al Qaeda was in dire need of money, sources added. (ANI)