Journalist killed over financial dispute, say police

Hitman involved in attack outside press class remain at large

LAHORE:

Without the arrest of shooters directly involved in killing crime reporter Hasnain Shah, the police have claimed having solved the case while presenting four suspects in handcuffs and declaring that the murder was instigated due to a financial dispute.

Capital City Police Chief (CCPO) Fayyaz Ahmad Dev said in a press conference that the prime suspect was a jeweller who had developed severe differences with the deceased over a financial dispute.

He said the suspect Amir Butt had hatched a plan after an exchange of harsh words with Hasnain to murder him with the help of his brother Shahid Butt and friend Farhan Shah.

Under the plan, Farhan Shah allegedly arranged four persons, including two contract shooters, to commit the murder. The police official said Amir Butt, the main suspect, did the planning and his accomplices Haider Shah and Amjad Pasha did reconnaissance and provided a vehicle and weapons for the murder to the shooters as well as helped identify the victim.

Police have seized the vehicle and weapon used in the murder of the journalist.

However, the shooters who had murdered Husnain Shah at Shimla Pahari near Lahore Press Club and fled are yet to be identified.

CCPO Dev said he had formed three teams to trace and arrest the murderers.

The teams were headed by the DIGs of operations and investigation, and the CIA SP.

He said the team led by DIG Operations Abid Khan was the first to find a clue to the suspected murderers, resulting in the arrest of Haider Shah, Amjad Pasha, Amir Butt and Farhan Shah. Hasnain Shah was shot dead on January 24.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2022.