Prime suspect in Dua Mangi kidnapping case still at large

The main accused in the Dua Mangi kidnapping case remains at large. Despite several police raids at different locations, the accused could not be apprehended.

The serious negligence of constable Naveed and Constable Zafar Habib, who were arrested on January 27 on aiding the accused Zohaib Qureshi, involved in the Dua Mangi kidnapping case and other crimes, including kidnapping for ransom.

Investigators assert that the arrested personnel have taken bribes and took the accused to other places, including shopping centres.

The investigation revealed that the accused Zohaib Qureshi and a policeman reached the shopping mall at Tariq Road from the City Courts through an online taxi service to buy a pair of shoes, while the policeman left the accused in the shopping mall and went back to the court.

The policeman called the online taxi service driver back to the court at 3.30 pm to pick the accused up from the mall, but he had fled away.

Read More: Girl fights back attempted kidnapping

Investigators said raids were carried out in other parts of the city, including Gulshan-e-Hadid, searching for the accused Zohaib Qureshi, but he managed to long arms of the law. Meanwhile, senior police officers told The Express Tribune that strict departmental action will be taken against the police officers for aiding the main accused with his escape.

Dua Mangi, was 22 when she had been abducted outside a restaurant in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on November 30, 2019.

She was walking with her friend, Haris Soomro, on a street in the area when the kidnappers pulled up and threatened them both with a gun. When the Soomro resisted, he was shot by one of the kidnappers who then abducted the young woman and fled.

Subsequently, in January 2021 an anti-terrorism court (ATC) indicted five suspects Muzaffar, Tariq, Zuhaib Qureshi, Waseem Raja and Fayyaz Qureshi for allegedly abducting Dua and demanding ransom for her release.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2022.