Amjad Sabri Murder Case: ‘Dildar Chacha’ Named as Mastermind Behind Qawwal’s Assassination

Fresh investigative details have come to light in the assassination case of celebrated qawwal Amjad Sabri, pointing to a sophisticated underground terrorist network allegedly masterminded by an individual known as “Dildar Chacha” — believed to have orchestrated multiple targeted killings across Karachi.

According to investigation reports, what appeared from the outside to be an ordinary electrical and plumbing supplies shop in Liaquatabad was, in reality, the nerve centre of the network’s operations. A concealed workshop within the premises was used for cleaning, repairing, and modifying weapons used in terrorist attacks, along with storing firearm components including firing pins and spare parts.

A report by Nukta described “Dildar Chacha” as a highly dangerous militant and bomb-making expert with alleged ties to banned extremist organisations. Despite presenting himself publicly as a simple labourer or plumber, he is accused of facilitating several major terrorist incidents in the city, including the attack on Karachi Airport and assaults on Rangers personnel.

Investigators further established that Dildar Chacha was the father-in-law of Ishaq Bobby — one of the two individuals directly charged with Amjad Sabri’s murder. Bobby and his co-accused Asif Kapri were subsequently arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and were found to be implicated in a total of 28 separate terrorism and targeted killing cases across the city.

Amjad Sabri was killed on 22 June 2016 during the holy month of Ramadan. He was travelling from his home in Liaquatabad to appear on a television programme when motorcycle-riding gunmen ambushed his vehicle. When the first attacker’s pistol jammed, a second .30-bore pistol was used to fatally shoot him.

Investigators noted that the suspects operated with a high degree of organisation, deliberately alternating between different weapons across attacks to mislead investigators into believing multiple separate groups were responsible. They also fitted specialised pouches to their firearms to catch spent cartridge cases and eliminate forensic traces.

During interrogation, the arrested suspects reportedly admitted they had selected Amjad Sabri as a “soft target” based on their extremist ideological convictions.

Dildar Chacha himself was killed on 6 March 2017 in an alleged CTD encounter in the Mehran Town area of Korangi. Authorities recovered a large cache of weapons, explosives, and explosive chemicals from one of his concealed hideouts during the operation. Investigators also reported that weapons used in various attacks bore distinctive engravings and markings — including the pistol alleged to have been used in Sabri’s killing, which reportedly bore his name.

CTD officials stated that the operation resulted in the complete dismantling of the network and was followed by a notable reduction in sectarian-style targeted killings in Karachi.