Mufti Abdul Qavi arrested in Qandeel Baloch murder case

MULTAN: Police have arrested cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi soon after he escaped from the court after rejection of his pre-arrest bail into celebrity Qandeel Baloch’s murder case on Wednesday, police said.

“We have arrested the cleric after he escaped from the court. Cantonment SP Dr Fahad showed extra ordinary performance and he ensured his arrest. Mufti Abdul Qavi dogged police in front of Multan District and Session Judge court and escaped but soon he was arrested when he was boarding to flee from Multan”, Regional Police Officer Muhammad Idrees told The News.

Police insiders said Mufti Abdul Qavi arrested on his way to Jhang where he scheduled to participate in the annual Urs of his grandfather.  

Mufti Abdul Qavi escaped even before the court pronounced its decision on the bail plea. Lawyers representing both the parties presented their case before Judge Muhammad Ameer Khan. The court then reached the decision of rejecting Mufti Qavi’s bail plea. During the hearing, the judge remarked that proceedings against Mufti Qavi would be carried out under section 302 and 109 (abetment) PPC.

Earlier, cleric Mufti Qavi managed his escape from Multan District and Session Judge court when the judge rejected confirmation of his pre-arrest bail into social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch’s murder and the cleric fled from the court safely to undisclosed destination, but police party led by Cantonment SP arrested him and handed over to police for interrogation.

The D&SJ Ameer Khan heard the arguments in support of confirmation of pre-arrest bail and finally he rejected bail plea and ordered the arrest of cleric but he successfully fled from the court after declaring the judgment by the judge.

Earlier, talking to journalists on his arrival to appear in the court, Mufti Qavi said that truth will win against satin and he said that he would accept the court verdict.

Cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi has said he is innocent and police were suspecting him into Qandil murder case on some external pressures to damage his repute and his services rendered for the promotion of religious teachings.

“I am law abiding citizen and appeared in the court to confirm my pre-arrest bail. My whole life is free from charge and I serve the religion sincerely. I have a large numbers of followers but police are involving him on some external pressures”, Mufti Qavi said.

A local court had granted him pre-arrest bail and he appeared before the D&SJ court to confirm his pre-arrest bail.

The District and Session Judge Chaudhry Amir Tuesday adjourned the hearing for Wednesday. Judge Ameer Ahmad Khan last week granted pre-arrest bail to Mufti Qavi shortly after a trial court issued his non-bail able arrest warrants in the Qandeel murder case.

Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Pervaiz Khan had issued non-bail able warrants for the arrest of Mufti Qavi when the investigation officer informed the court that he was not cooperating with police in investigation.

Celebrity Qandeel Baloch was found dead mysteriously and some strangulated her to death in her house on Sher Shah-Muzaffarabad road on July 16, 2016.

Her father claimed that her younger brother, Waseem, in the name of honour, killed her. Police had arrested her brother from Dera Ghazi Khan. He allegedly confessed killing her sister in the name of honor.