The murder of Khalid Shahenshah, a key witness in Benazir Bhutto’s murder case, has been blamed rather quickly on the ‘terrorists’ by Sind Home Minister. But Khalid had a controversial background which included a record of criminal cases, working as an activist of People’s Students Federation in the 1980s, an alleged member of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang later, and most recently as one of the body guards of Benazir Bhutto. He was considered a diehard member of the Karachi PPP during the 1980s.  Shahenshah’s group was a source of inspiration among pro-PPP students throughout the 1980s because Karachi’s urban areas were under the influence of either religio-political parties or the MQM. “He experienced the worst days of his life when he was put behind bars during the rule of Martial Law dictator General Zia ul Haq,” recalled Waqar Mehdi, special assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh. Shahenshah had contested Elections 2002 from NA-246 and while the MQM’s candidate defeated him, Shahenshah was appreciated for standing from the home constituency of none other than MQM Chief Altaf Hussain. After the electoral contest, he was relatively less active in the PPP for quite some time. He was also accused of having connections with the underworld. 

He was sitting in the back seat of Benazir’s car when she was hit by bullets and bomb blasts and was a key witness in her murder case. He was also interviewed by the Scotland yard.  His most controversial part was his antics on the stage where BB addressed her last public meeting. See the following video:

After BB’s murder, the above video was run by many channels including DAWN News and Rehman Malik denied Khalid Shahenshah’s or his responsibility in BB’s secuirty lapses. (See Daily Times of Jan. 06, 2008)

According to the Post of Januray 4, 2008:

PPP sources have reported that the moment Benazir ended her address, this (servant) man was the first one to dive into her bullet proof Land Cruiser; an unusual change from past routine whilst he always boarded the vehicle after Benazir, often hanging by the external pedestals of her Cruiser, as was evident in videos.

One other household servant and Dr Safdar Abbassi got seated in the rear portion of the Cruiser, and when the suicide bomber blew himself apart, Khalid was also present in the Cruiser. Afterwards he (Khalid) went over to the Zardari House, Islamabad where he lived for two days, and did not visit Naudero despite Benazir’s death, making it there on third day. When informed about the video of his antics he promptly disappeared from the scene, over the excuse of his mother’s death.

Khalid’s name figured in Asia Times reports of July 16, 2003 and  October 22, 2003 as a gang member linked to the famous underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. The News in its June 18, 2006 issue published a report speculating Dawood may have moved to Waziristan.

The Newsline in its September 2001 issue had reported:

Meanwhile, not only have the Pakistani authorities turned a blind eye to the gang’s activities within Pakistan, but many in the corridors of power have partaken of Dawood’s hospitality.  Dawood often throws lavish mujras for Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats.  A recent guest was a former caretaker Prime Minister.

            These are not the only members of the establishment who have close ties with Dawood.  He is said to have the protection of assorted intelligence agencies.  In fact, Dawood and his men move around the city guarded by heavy escorts of armed men in civvies believed to be personnel of a top Pakistani security agency.