bhaibarood
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Student behind stabbing of Bahawalpur professor may have had help from outsider
Alarming picture emerges of boy who was inspired by Khadim Hussain Rizvi and possibly radicalised through social media.
There is perhaps only one person whom Khateeb Hussain had informed before he decided to kill his English professor on March 20. On that ill-fated day, the 21-year-old Bachelor of Science student stabbed Professor Khalid Hameed to death in a small office next to the English Department staff room at the Government Sadiq Egerton College, over reservations about a farewell event scheduled to be held the following day. "No one in my family or at the college knew what was going to happen," Hussain told Dawn from the lock-up where he is currently being held.
Bahawalpur police have stumbled upon one individual with whom Hussain shared his sinister plot. The man is Layyah-based lawyer Zafar Hussain Shah Gilani, an active senior Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leader who was picked up by the district police this week in connection with Professor Hameed's murder. In the course of their investigation, authorities arrested Gilani when Hussain's mobile phone records revealed that the student had constantly been in touch with him through phonecalls and social media. Three mobile phones linked to this case are now being analysed by digital experts at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).
Hussain's eagerness to take credit for the murder paints an alarming picture of a boy who was inspired by videos of preacher Khadim Hussain Rizvi and possibly radicalised through social media. Even a few days after being in police custody, Hussain said he had no qualms about taking the law into his hands. "I am not from a maulvi family and I am not a Hafiz-e-Quran either. My father owns a motorcycle showroom in Bahawalpur," he said, eager to take credit for Professor Hameed's murder. He confirmed his friendship with Gilani and hinted that he had shared his desire to kill the professor with him on at least two occasions.
A photo from Gilani's Twitter account shows him with TLP leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi
Although he was unable to give clear reasons for his growing resentment towards the professor other than some vague discussions held in their Literature classes, when Hussain talked about Gilani, his face softened and his voice lowered out of respect. He said they connected over Whatsapp when Hussain joined groups which primarily discussed religious topics. They had never met in person. "We were in touch almost daily. I offered to help him manage his social media accounts so I used to create basic photo shares and pictures for him.I have basic skills." The night before the murder, Hussain via private Facebook messages told his confidante Gilani what he was about to do. Hussain claims he did not see his friend's response, but that authorities who saw his mobile phone have informed him that Gilani gave him the go-ahead
DSP Shams Khan, who is supervising this investigation, does not name the group Gilani is linked to, but says he is an admin on 15 or so groups on Whatsapp. "On Twitter, Zafar Hussain Gilani has 8 accounts through which he propagates his campaign for a religious group. He is very active. After the murder of the professor, some messages have been deleted from his social media accounts." Khan confirms that Gilani was informed by Hussain about his plans, and that he responded saying that the professor should be punished.
Gilani's Twitter profile photo
Gilani's profile photos on his various Twitter accounts bear the unmistakable TLP branding. In one of the public photos, he is seen meeting with TLP leader Khadim Rizvi. Gilani contested the 2018 election on the party's ticket for NA 187, securing 7,425 votes and coming fifth place. He was arrested a few months ago when he staged a sit-in in Layyah and blocked roads over the Supreme Court's dismissal of a petition against Aasia Bibi's acquittal. He was later released on bail. In December last year, he petitioned the Lahore High Court for the acquittal of Rizvi.
DPO Amir Taimoor Buzdar is reluctant to link any group to the crime. "It is the act of one individual but we are not treating it as a routine murder case as section 7 ATA has been applied. We are hoping for a speedy trial in a special court."
Alarming picture emerges of boy who was inspired by Khadim Hussain Rizvi and possibly radicalised through social media.
There is perhaps only one person whom Khateeb Hussain had informed before he decided to kill his English professor on March 20. On that ill-fated day, the 21-year-old Bachelor of Science student stabbed Professor Khalid Hameed to death in a small office next to the English Department staff room at the Government Sadiq Egerton College, over reservations about a farewell event scheduled to be held the following day. "No one in my family or at the college knew what was going to happen," Hussain told Dawn from the lock-up where he is currently being held.
Bahawalpur police have stumbled upon one individual with whom Hussain shared his sinister plot. The man is Layyah-based lawyer Zafar Hussain Shah Gilani, an active senior Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) leader who was picked up by the district police this week in connection with Professor Hameed's murder. In the course of their investigation, authorities arrested Gilani when Hussain's mobile phone records revealed that the student had constantly been in touch with him through phonecalls and social media. Three mobile phones linked to this case are now being analysed by digital experts at the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA).

Hussain's eagerness to take credit for the murder paints an alarming picture of a boy who was inspired by videos of preacher Khadim Hussain Rizvi and possibly radicalised through social media. Even a few days after being in police custody, Hussain said he had no qualms about taking the law into his hands. "I am not from a maulvi family and I am not a Hafiz-e-Quran either. My father owns a motorcycle showroom in Bahawalpur," he said, eager to take credit for Professor Hameed's murder. He confirmed his friendship with Gilani and hinted that he had shared his desire to kill the professor with him on at least two occasions.

A photo from Gilani's Twitter account shows him with TLP leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi
Although he was unable to give clear reasons for his growing resentment towards the professor other than some vague discussions held in their Literature classes, when Hussain talked about Gilani, his face softened and his voice lowered out of respect. He said they connected over Whatsapp when Hussain joined groups which primarily discussed religious topics. They had never met in person. "We were in touch almost daily. I offered to help him manage his social media accounts so I used to create basic photo shares and pictures for him.I have basic skills." The night before the murder, Hussain via private Facebook messages told his confidante Gilani what he was about to do. Hussain claims he did not see his friend's response, but that authorities who saw his mobile phone have informed him that Gilani gave him the go-ahead
DSP Shams Khan, who is supervising this investigation, does not name the group Gilani is linked to, but says he is an admin on 15 or so groups on Whatsapp. "On Twitter, Zafar Hussain Gilani has 8 accounts through which he propagates his campaign for a religious group. He is very active. After the murder of the professor, some messages have been deleted from his social media accounts." Khan confirms that Gilani was informed by Hussain about his plans, and that he responded saying that the professor should be punished.

Gilani's Twitter profile photo
Gilani's profile photos on his various Twitter accounts bear the unmistakable TLP branding. In one of the public photos, he is seen meeting with TLP leader Khadim Rizvi. Gilani contested the 2018 election on the party's ticket for NA 187, securing 7,425 votes and coming fifth place. He was arrested a few months ago when he staged a sit-in in Layyah and blocked roads over the Supreme Court's dismissal of a petition against Aasia Bibi's acquittal. He was later released on bail. In December last year, he petitioned the Lahore High Court for the acquittal of Rizvi.
DPO Amir Taimoor Buzdar is reluctant to link any group to the crime. "It is the act of one individual but we are not treating it as a routine murder case as section 7 ATA has been applied. We are hoping for a speedy trial in a special court."

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