Imambargah Caretaker Arif Husain Bhatti and his son shot dead in Bhattianwala
30-3-2002
BAHAWALPUR, March 30: Caretaker of an imambargah and his son were reportedly shot dead by two motorcyclists near Sabzi Mandi here on Saturday night.
Arif Husain Bhatti, 46, was the caretaker of Bhattianwala Imambargah and was founding another imambargah at Shams Colony. He was running a general store near Sabzi Mandi.
Arif Bhatti's nephew Ghulam Abbas told police that his uncle and cousin Ali Muntazir, 19, were closing the shop at around 8pm when the assailants appeared on a Honda motorcycle. They opened indiscriminate fire on them and sped away from the scene after injuring them. The injured were rushed to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital. Muntazir died on way to hospital while Arif succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Tanvir Husain, the elder son of Arif, claimed that his father died due to delay in provision of medical aid. He alleged that the staff wasted time in fulfilling legal formalities.
As the death of Arif Husain was announced, a large number of people gathered outside the casualty ward of the BVH resorted to violence. They damaged windowpanes of the ward. The staff on duty had to rush to safety fearing manhandling by the angry mob.
A heavy police contingent was rushed to the hospital which brought the situation under control. Meanwhile, the people refused post-mortem examination on the body.
Arif was the father of seven sons and two daughters.
BAHAWALPUR: Imambargah caretaker, son laid to rest
BAHAWALPUR, March 31: Imambargah Bhatianwala Caretaker Arif Husain Bhatti and his son Ali Muntaza Mechoi, shot dead by two motorcyclists on Saturday night, were laid to rest in the plot of Hujjatul Asr, Shams Colony on Sunday.
Hundreds of people from various parts of the district attended the funeral prayers in Karbala courtyard, Block B, Model Town after Zohar.
Condemning the sectarian killing, several shia community leaders urged the government to bring the culprits to book without delay. However, they took their decision back to go on demonstration after reaching an agreement with the local administration.
Till late Saturday, the bereaved family did not allow the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) staff to conduct postmortem. On their nod, the examination was conducted which revealed Mr Bhatti was not given proper treatment at the crucial time. The Civil Lines police have registered an FIR against the two unidentified motorcyclists under section 302 PPC.
When contacted, a police official told Dawn that they would tighten noose on the culprits. The police were in hunt to round up some of the suspects, it was learnt. The soyem of the two will be held on Tuesday (tomorrow).
Arif Bhatti's father Khadim Husain died due to cardiac arrest
BAHAWALPUR, April 1: Police could not find a clue to the killers of Arif Husain Bhatti, caretaker of Bhattianwala Imambargah, and his son Muntazir Mehdi. They were killed on Saturday night by two motorcyclists when they were closing their shop near Sabzi Mandi.
It is learnt that Arif was a complainant in several murder cases of the people belonging to Shia sect. Meanwhile, Arif Bhatti's father Khadim Husain died on Sunday night apparently due to cardiac arrest.
Saddar police are hunting two alleged terrorists involved in Siddiq Khan Kanju murder case after the arrest of a man who reportedly provided them shelter.
Meanwhile, Saddar police, on a tip off, raided the house of Maulavi Khalil Ahmad in Abbasi Town on the Multan Road early on Monday morning to arrest alleged killers of Siddiq Kanju, Wasim and Akram Awan. Police took Maulavi Khalil in custody after failing to arrest the two - Wasim of Leiah and Akram Awan of Vehari city.
Later, police claimed that Maulavi Khalil was providing shelter to the terrorists' gang headed by Shakil, who was killed in an encounter with CIA staff last month.