Prime suspect in Fahad Malik case arrested from Torkham border

FIA arrests Raja Arshad from Khyber Agency while he was

planning to cross over into Afghanistan

Islamabad

The law enforcement agencies have arrested Raja Arshad, the prime suspect involved in the killing of Barrister Fahad Malik, nephew of former chairman, Senate, Mian Muhammad Soomro, at Toorkham border when he was trying to enter into Afghanistan in the wee hours of Sunday, the Ministry of Interior and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sources confirmed.

The suspect was in the custody of the Political Agent of the Khyber Agency and FIA and will soon be shifted to Islamabad to be handed over to the Islamabad police.

This correspondent has got a 42-second exclusive video footage which describes the scene when Raja Arshad was arrested.

Shafique Azam, ASI of FIA conducted the raid on a house in Khyber Agency at late night where the suspect Raja Arshad was enjoying sound sleep. The footage shows accused Raja Arshad rubbing his eyes and straightening his hair. "Keep your hands down like this," Shafique Azam directed the accused. "May I wash my face," Raja Arshad asked Shafique Azam but he refused to allow saying that he was good and initiated questioning.

"What is your name?"

Arshad Mehmood, Raja Arshad replies without any hesitation.

"Son of?"

Mohammad Bakhsheesh.

"Where do you live?"

Islamabad.

"Where in Islamabad?" Shafique Azam asked as he carried complete information about the suspect.

"E-7", the accused replies.

"House number?"

House No. 114, the accused said but Shafique Azam completed his sentence saying that your Street No. 10.

"You have cell phone with you?"

"No" The accused replied.

"Have you any money?"

"Yes, about 25/30 thousand," the accused answered.

"Where the money is?" Shafique Azam asked.

"Somewhere in this room," Raja Arshad said.

Shafique Azam concluded his questioning with "okay" as he felt enough information for confirmation that he was the required person.

The interior minister took interest in the case and delivered timely directives to concerned law enforcement agencies to put the names of suspect on exit control list which made arrests of the killers possible," the police sources said.

The people engaged in the investigation of the case, indicated that some aides of the Raja Arshad including Nomi Khokhar were aware of his location and provided details of information about his location to the police.

Earlier, the federal capital police had arrested another main suspect of the killing case, Nauman Yaqoob Khokar (Nomi Khokhar) on Saturday from the courtroom, after rejection of his bail petition from the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Pervaiz-ul-Qadir Memon.

The police compiled a report on the statements of the people who witnessed the episode in and outside the Shalimar Police Station on 14th August when people were celebrating the Independence Day. According to the report, some severe controversies developed between both the groups on girls issues which could not be reconciled or resolved despite efforts from common friends.

At the day of incident (14th August) two girls while sitting at Goloria Jeans Coffee Shop at F-11 called Raja Arshad to join them. Raja Arshad arrived there with two women of Malik family when younger brothers of Husnain Malik, Bazid and Zonain were also there who had a verbal encounter with a girl of their family outside Goloria Jeans. Abuses between a woman of Malik family and Zonain led to physical scuffle with Raja Arshad when police was called by Husnain Malik who had reached the scene with his father, Tariq Malik. Police took Raja Arshad to Shalimar Police Station asking Malik's to reach there. Raja Arshad reached police station in police van followed by Malik Tariq and his son. As they all entered the main building of the police station, Raja Arshad punched, Hussain Malik, who in response grabbed Raja with tough thrashing for over 10 minutes and during this course policemen kept beating Husnain with kicks and punches.

During the course of whole episode spread over three hours not even cop of a rank of ASI was visible in the police station. During this time many verbal abuses, scuffles took place in the police station.

Barrister Fahad Malik was the last one provoked by Raja Arshad with abuses that almost led to physical clash prevented by other people and low ranking police officers.

At that time police officer asked the mediators including Fahad Malik and few others of both groups to leave the police station. The report said over 100 persons each from the Malik and Raja groups were waiting outside the police station for the outcome of negotiation. After about 15-20 minutes Barrister Fahad Malik was again called inside the police station as Raja Arshad suddenly agreed to compromise with Malik's. During the span of 15 minutes, police after this so called compromise allowed both the parties to go out scot free.

Malik supporters outside the police station were well aware through their common friends that Raja Arshad had already summoned his associates who were hiding in side streets with weapons. Consequently, Barrister Fahad Malik and Malik Tariq rode on two different vehicles with other relatives and left for E-7 but as their vehicles reached old Margalla Road, vehicles of Raja Arshad and his men intercepted them and opened firing aiming Barrister Fahad Malik and Tariq Malik.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, acknowledging performance of ASI FIA Shafique Azam, announced appreciation certificate with cash reward.