Murtaza Bhutto

SUDDLE SAYS SSP DURRANI ACTED ON HIS OWN
KARACHI, Oct 29, 1996: The DIG Police, Karachi Range, Dr. Mohammad
Shoaib Suddle, told the three-man tribunal on Tuesday he had not given any
instructions to SSP South Wajid Ali Durrani about the operation, which he
had initiated himself as he was a very senior and competent police officer and
had been in charge of seven districts before. The DIG said he came to know of
the operation near 70-Clifton when the shots fired at the scene also hit his
compound wall and one of the bullets also hit the main door of his house,
which is located nearby. Question from the tribunal: Were you aware of the
bomb blasts near Karachi Gymkhana and near the Sindh Secretariat and the
raids conducted by Mir Murtaza and his men in search of Ali Sonara?
A: Yes.
Q: When did you come to know about the Clifton incident?
A: I came to know about it at 8:45 pm.
Q: Prior to the incident were you aware that the action was being taken?
A: I came to know from SSP Wajid Ali Durrani between 8:15 and 8:30 pm on
the same night. The information was given to me on phone and I did not ask
him in so many words and since the bomb blasts and subsequent raids by
PPP(SB) people at the police stations and CIA centres, I wanted that no more
blasts should take place. The decision was taken, including the one for the
arrest of suspects on the basis of information obtained from Ali Sonara. The
decision was also to search the people entering 70-Clifton with arms. The DIG
further said he was aware that Mir's men were armed and the reply given by
the SSP was that he (the SSP) was there to supervise the operation and
prevent any incident involving Mir.
Q: Till the firing started did you receive any instructions from the authorities
that no action should be taken against Mir Murtaza?
A: I was not aware of any such instructions ever since I was made a DIG on
June 19, 1995.
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