In custody: 13-year-old’s suspected killer held

PESHAWAR: Hayatabad police arrested a man on Friday in connection with the murder of a teenage boy. The deceased was identified as 13-year-old Hashmat Ali. Hashmat was a student of class six who was found slaughtered in Bagh-e-Naran in the city on February 23. ASP Hassan Afzal told The Express Tribune the police have arrested Fazal Hadi, a shop owner in Yakatoot, in connection with the murder. According to the ASP, Hadi was Hashmat’s friend. However, Hadi became jealous when Hashmat made another friend. Driven by jealous rage, he murdered the 13-year-old. “Hadi slit Hashmat’s throat,” Afzal said. “The police recovered the knife from the murder scene. Hashmat had worked as a helper at Hadi’s shop for some time.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th,  2016.