Who was Amir Tamba?

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that preliminary investigations into the murder of Amir Sarfraz Tamba, who was accused of killing Indian terrorist Sarabjit Singh in 2013, indicate possible involvement of India in his assassination.

Speaking to reporters at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) office in Lahore, Naqvi mentioned that the police were actively probing the incident surrounding Tamba’s fatal shooting, with suspicions leaning towards India’s potential role.

“Prior to this incident, India has been implicated in four other similar killings. However, it would be premature to draw definitive conclusions until the investigation is concluded, although the modus operandi bears resemblance to previous cases,” he added.

According to police reports, Tamba was gunned down by two assailants on motorcycles within the jurisdiction of Islampura police on Sunday. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Tamba succumbed to his injuries.

Sarabjit Singh India Pakistan Sikh — People shout slogans against Pakistan as they display photographs of Sarabjit Singh, a convicted Indian who was killed in a Lahore jail, during a protest in Kolkata, India [File: Bikas Das/AP]

A case has been registered against the unidentified attackers based on a complaint filed by Tamba’s brother, Junaid Sarfraz, while law enforcement authorities have initiated a search for the perpetrators using CCTV footage.

It is worth mentioning that in an interview broadcasted on April 5, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh acknowledged the Modi-led government’s policy of conducting targeted killings in Pakistan, declaring India’s intent to pursue individuals attempting terrorist activities across the border.

Singh’s remarks followed revelations by The Guardian, indicating that the Indian government had orchestrated approximately 20 such killings in Pakistan since 2020 as part of a broader counterterrorism strategy. This report corroborated earlier accusations from Canada and the United States regarding Indian involvement in targeted killings abroad.

Who was Amir Tamba?

Amir Tamba, aged 45, resided with his siblings in Islampura and worked as a spice merchant.

In April 2013, Tamba and Mudasir Munir allegedly assaulted Sarabjit Singh with bricks and iron rods while he was incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat jail. Singh had been sentenced to death for his involvement in bomb attacks that claimed 14 lives in Lahore and Faisalabad in 1990.

However, on December 14, 2018, a sessions court in Lahore acquitted Tamba and Munir of Singh’s murder due to retractions by all witnesses, subsequently ordering their release.