KARACHI: After the initial scare of a suspected assassination attempt on Mufti Taqi Usmani, the police have asserted that the man in question only wished to meet the religious scholar and had no malicious intent.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Korangi Shah Jehan Khan, the man, identified as Asim Laeeq, did not attack Mufti Usmani and had simply sought a meeting with the scholar after Fajr prayers.
“When interrogated, the 35-year-old man revealed he was tired of frequent quarelling with his family and had tried to approach Mufti Usmani to ask him to pray for him,” the SSP Korangi added.
The police official further said Asim Laeeq chose the time of Fajr as Mufti Usmani is usually free at the time. The SSP Korangi said the man is a resident of Gulistan-e-Jauhar.
Earlier, Mufti Taqi Usmani said he escaped unharmed after a man pulled a knife on him at the Darul Uloom Korangi seminary during the early hours of Thursday morning.
In an audio message, Mufti Usmani confirmed that the incident had taken place and said that the suspect had wanted to speak to him separately. He said that he had just gotten up to meet with him when he brandished the knife. “Those around me quickly caught him,” he said, adding that he was not harmed.
When the security guards searched the suspect, they found a knife in his pocket. After finding the knife on the suspect, the guards took him into custody and handed him over to the police
Sheikh Rasheed’s statement
Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed spoke to Usmani over the phone to express concern over the incident. The minister inquired about the incident from the religious scholar, and praised him for being the “pride of Islam”.
“I am very concerned about the suspected attack on you,” said Rasheed, praying for the scholar’s health and long life.
