Delhi Colony murder: Halima’s stepson was involved in her murder, claims key suspect

Rizwan Ayaz Khan, suspected to be Haleema's murderer, retracts earlier confession

KARACHI: A key suspect in the Halima murder case changed his statement when he was presented before a judge on Friday.

Rizwan Ayaz Khan, suspected to be the murderer of the woman found dead in a flat in Delhi Colony on May 31, denied before the judge his involvement in the case. A day earlier, the police had claimed that Khan confessed in custody.



According to the police, Khan was apprehended in an intelligence-driven raid in the outskirts of the city off Super Highway early on June 9. He was, however, brought to court on Friday to record his ‘confessional’ statement. The police also sought his remand for further interrogation.

The suspect, who appeared to be in his 30s, complained before the District South judicial magistrate that he was being forced to confess even though he was not involved in the murder. He feared that he may be killed for not confessing.

Giving statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Khan accused Halima’s stepson Ansar Iqbal of being involved. He cited a property issue as the main reason. Khan claimed that the police investigators are overlooking this factor.

He also told the judge that he was not arrested from the outskirts of Karachi. In fact, he was picked up from Khanewal in Punjab, he said.



Meanwhile, the investigation officer asked the judge for the suspect’s physical custody for interrogation. The suspect’s attorney intervened, however, and opposed the police application.

The lawyer said that his client was an asthma patient and his condition was worsening. He pleaded the judge allow Khan to be shifted to a hospital. The judge asked the police to ensure that the suspect received best medical care and ordered them to provide him an inhaler immediately.

Concluding the proceedings, the judge ruled to send the suspect to jail on 14-day remand and directed the investigation officer to present a charge sheet on next hearing.

Case history

The case was highlighted when four-year-old Abdullah was dropped off at Edhi Centre in Clifton by a man, who was later identified as Khan. As the police started looking for his parents, a body was found in Delhi Colony that was confirmed to be Abdullah’s mother, Halima. The police made the connection between the two incidents when they learned that Khan’s CNIC, which he submitted when he brought Abdullah to Edhi Centre, was used to rent the Delhi Colony apartment.

Since Khan was on the run, the police arrested his wife, Sonia. She told the police that she knew Halima from when they lived in Qayyumabad. Halima lived as a tenant in their house and her husband, Chaudhry Iqbal, rarely visited her. A few months ago, Halima left the house and disappeared. She was unaware if her husband and the deceased woman were romantically involved.

Meanwhile, Abdullah’s father Chaudhary Iqbal is currently in the middle of a custody battle in court. He had approached the police on June 5 to hand over the child to him and filed a petition in court the next day.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2016.