‘Facilitator’ of SC lawyer’s murder arrested in KP

In a major development in the murder case of senior Supreme Court lawyer Khawaja Shamsul Islam, police have arrested one of the suspects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and impounded the vehicle allegedly used in his escape.

Confirming the arrest of one of the alleged facilitators, South Zone police chief DIG Asad Raza told The News that during the investigation, police mapped the escape route of prime suspect Imran Afridi and found evidence suggesting he fled the crime scene alone on a motorbike.

Investigators also traced a bungalow in DHA purportedly used by the suspects, with CCTV camera footage from the surroundings capturing their movements before and after the incident.

DIG Raza said that over 30 video clips from the CCTV cameras installed as part of the Safe City and S4 projects as well as those installed at other locations were obtained to track the suspects.

Using human intelligence, police raided the residences of their relatives in Karachi, detaining several people for questioning. Hotel records later led the investigation to Hyderabad, where relatives of the suspects were taken into custody for information. Technical surveillance then confirmed that the suspects had escaped to KP.

FIR No. 593/25 registered at the Darakhshan police station names eight suspects, one of whom is already in jail. Police have sought court permission to interrogate the jailed suspect. DIG Raza has briefed the Karachi Bar Association on the progress of the case. Police remain in close contact with the victim’s family, and have deployed security at his residence. The authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that all those involved would face trial.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Home Department has formally requested the KP government to assist in the arrest and transfer of 11 suspects allegedly involved in the high-profile case registered under murder, attempted murder, terrorism and criminal conspiracy charges. In the letter written to the KP Home Department, the Sindh police have identified the following suspects hiding in KP: Imran Afridi, son of Nabi Gul Afridi; Zarar Afridi, son of Nabi Gul Afridi; Inaan Khan, son of Nabi Gul; Usman Afridi, son of Shireen Afridi; Taqdeer, son of Azam Gul; Bahar Gul, son of Azam Gul; Khasta Gul, son of Azam Gul; Shehryar, son of Bahar Gul; Islam Nawaz, son of Bahar Gul; Hassan, son of Shareefullah; and Dawood, son of Zimat Gul.

The letter reads that a Sindh police party would head to KP. The team will be led by Inspector Aamir Virk, and comprise ASI Abdul Qadir, a female search officer and the Darakhshan police personnel deployed for the purpose.

The Sindh Home Department has also outlined the specific conditions for the transfer: securing transit remand from court, if required; ensuring no human rights violations are committed during the custody transfer; and preventing either party from travelling during the transfer process.