Would-be groom was killed by hitman hired by friend: police

The District Korangi police on Monday claimed to have solved the mystery behind the murder of a young man who was supposed to get married on Tuesday (today). They have arrested the three key suspects, but a “paid killer” is yet to be arrested.

The Korangi SSP arrested the three friends who were involved in orchestrating the murder of 22-year-old Osama Javed through a paid killer, according to the District Korangi police spokesperson.

The victim’s friend Talha had driven him from the bride’s house on Friday, when the Mayoon ceremony was held. The assailants shot Osama in the face near Darul Uloom and made their escape.

Police have received information about a dispute among Osama’s friends over blackmailing a girl. After obtaining CCTV camera footage and evidence from the crime scene, the police arrested the suspects.

Officials said they also recovered a .32-bore pistol and the car used in the incident, adding that blood samples of the victim were recovered from Talha’s vehicle.

According to the police, they have also arrested Ibad and Raheel, saying that Talha had recruited the two men to commit Osama’s murder. Officials said that after the murder, Talha used his car to drop the killer off at a secluded location.

They said that the hired assassin hailing from Balochistan is on the run, but efforts are under way to catch him as the arrested suspects are being interrogated further.

The deceased was a resident of Korangi No. 1½. Police said the victim’s family had made arrangements for the Mehndi ceremony on Sunday.

His bullet-riddled body was found near Darul Uloom in the Korangi area on Friday night. The deceased was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, from where the body was moved to the morgue, where the victim’s family identified him on Sunday.

A case was registered on the complaint of the victim’s father at the Awami Colony police station. The victim’s funeral prayers were offered near his residence, and he was later laid to rest at a local graveyard.