Mystery: Local PTI leader murdered in capital

Body found in Lakhwal area in Banigala police jurisdiction

ISLAMABAD: A local PTI leader who had gone missing two days ago was found dead near Banigala on Friday. Yasir Murtaza advocate, who was vice-chairman for Union Council No 8 (Tumair), had reportedly gone missing from Pakistan Town Phase-I on February 21, and a kidnapping case had also been registered with Lohi Bher police station.

However, on Friday police found him murdered and dumped in Lakhwal area in Banigala police jurisdiction. The body bore signs of torture. Police said apparently Murtaza was killed by strangulation, and the body was two days old.

Murtaza was an advocate and a local leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Islamabad chapter. He was a cousin of PTI Islamabad President Raja Khurram Nawaz. Sources said his car was found abandoned in Rawalpindi’s Sadiqbad police area while body was found in Banigala.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2018.