Islamabad police have arrested the men behind the attack on former Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chief and journalist Absar Alam who was shot and injured in April last year.
The arrested attackers have confessed to attempting to kill Alam, but also shared that they had been ordered to make a life attempt at journalist Asad Toor as well. However, the media uproar created by the attempt on Alam’s life forced them to change their plans regarding Toor, according to a report by The News.
The transnational crime was carried out by multiple agents at various locations. The attack was ordered from Germany, and then was outsourced to a person in Sheikhupura, who hired attackers from Khushab.
The payment to the hitmen was made in Lahore, whereas the residential location of Alam was in Islamabad. The planning work on the assassination attempt started in February 2021, and the actual attack on Alam took place in April, while Toor was attacked in May.
The mastermind behind the attack was Zain Ghayyas, 32, who is a proclaimed offender in a murder case in his native Gujrat district and had moved to Germany. He further tasked Hammad, 23, who lives in Sheikhupura, through his cousin, Shahnawaz, who lives in Greece.
Hammad was a wireless operator in the army until he was court-martialed after two years of service. Alam’s shooter, Nadeem Asghar, was hired from Khushab. In total, there were eight individuals involved in the attack on the former PEMRA chief, including Muhammad Ramzan (Bhakkar), Rizwan Ali (Sheikhupura), Muhammad Ramzan (Khushab) and Shehbaz Rasheed.
The link was discovered by chance when Hammad had been arrested in a robbery case. Subsequent investigation revealed his connection in attacks on journalists.
The initial reconnaissance was done by Hammad, who was paid Rs 1.5 million in three installments by Zain, who had also promised to secure jobs for them in the Middle East.
It is unknown on whose orders Zain was leading this operation, but it may become clear once he is repatriated back to Pakistan.
