‘Jhang murder linked to volleyball match’
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Akhtar Abbas Shah, the father of Tauqeer Abbas Alias Taqi Shah who was recently murdered in Jhang district, has refuted allegations that the killing was religiously motivated.
Certain media outlets had alleged that the victim was killed over accusations of blasphemy on March 24 in Shorkot tehsil.
Contrary to the claim, Akhtar Abbas said that his son was murdered after an altercation and exchange of slurs with the suspect during a volleyball match.
He refuted the allegation that the killing was religiously motivated and lamented that it was being portrayed wrongly.
On Wednesday, Taqi Shah was axed to death in Allahyar Jota village, 45km away from Shorkot in front of his friend Hasnain Shah.
Initial reports had emerged that the victim was on foot and was intercepted and lethally attacked by the suspect while he was enjoying a visit at a local festival with his friend.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Akhtar Abbas said that his son was returning from the shrine of Bahadar Shah on a motorcycle with his friend Hasnain Shah, when they were stopped near Allahyar Jota village and the victim was killed by Muhammad Liaquat and his two unidentified accomplices.
He said the accused used axes to slay his son and then fled the scene.
In the first information report (FIR), the motive behind the murder has been noted as a quarrel that erupted between the suspect and the victim during a volleyball match a couple of days earlier.
“To avenge insult, Liaquat axed my son to death,” the grieving father underscored, adding that the allegation of blasphemy and it being the motive behind my son’s murder was a fabricated story.
According to latest reports, Shorkot city police have registered a murder case against the three suspects and arrested the main suspect Muhammad Liaquat along with the murder weapon.
Police said Liaquat was apprehended on Wednesday evening and was presented before a magistrate who sent him to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.
The police are conducting raids to arrest the other
two suspects nominated in the FIR.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2021.