While striving to identify the shooters involved in an attempt to assassinate Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Bilal Yaseen, police have arrested a suspect who sold the weapon used in the attack.
Police officials said the arrested man, Afzal, had pointed during interrogation to another suspect, Sajid Garma.
“As per routine, I received a call from Sajid to deliver an imported handgun to a person that I did,” he reportedly told the police. He said he had been delivering weapons in the same manner.
When police checked Sajid’s profile, they came to know that he had a business at the Duty Free Shop but dealt in illegal weapons under the garb.
When the police reportedly tried to call Sajid for interrogation, his phone was switched off. Police officials said they were look into the call data record (CDR) of both suspects.
In addition, geo-fencing of the crime scene and both suspects’ areas was also being done.
The name of another suspect, Mohsin, had also surfaced during the interrogation, the officials said. The police found that he had a criminal record with cases of murder and attempt to murder. Reportedly, he runs a hosiery business near Lahore Railway Station. However, his current whereabouts are also unknown and his phone is not responding.
As the police started the investigation, they found a clue. The assailants had dropped their weapon while fleeing on a motorbike after shooting at Yaseen.
It is reportedly a 9mm Turkish-made handgun. When police prbed into the matter, it came forth that the weapon had been purchased from Neela Gumbad.
Three weapon dealers were included in the investigation that led the police to detaining Afzal.
Meanwhile, pictures of the shooters have also been collected from footage of CCTV cameras installed near the site of the attack. They have been forwarded to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for identification.
At least six teams are working on the case but the police are yet to arrest the attackers or ascertain the motive.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2022.
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