Scope of probe into murder of hotel owner broadened

Police say evidence obtained from closed-circuit cameras being collated

RAWALPINDI:

Police have broadened the investigation into the murder and burning of a hotel owner in a vehicle in the Morgah area of Rawalpindi.

Police said that footage obtained from closed-circuit cameras installed at the deceased’s home, his hotel and on the route to the crime scene were being put together.

According to police sources, the deceased hotel owner leaves behind two wives. On the day of the incident, the car was seen going to and returning from a housing society where one of the two wives of the victim resides.

Police are also trying to trace the culprits through the data of the victim's mobile phone.

According to the police, the burnt body of 50-year-old Chaudhry Farooq was found in the back seat of a burnt car parked in the Morgah area. Police collected evidence and transported the body to a hospital for an autopsy.

The police have registered a case of murder against unidentified persons. The family members told the police that Chaudhry Farooq left home in a car between five and six o'clock on Thursday evening but did not return.

When the police examined footage of the closed-circuit TV cameras installed on the victim's house and on the route from the hotel to the crime scene and buildings, the car of Chaudhry Farooq was seen going to a private housing society on GT Road and after staying there for two hours, it was seen coming from the Morgah area.

A police officer involved in the investigation told The Express Tribune that the victim had two wives and from one wife, he had five children. His one son is living in Pakistan while one son and three daughters are living abroad. The officer said that the other wife, who has been married for a long time and had no children, is living in a private housing society.

Police also contacted the wife of the victim who is residing in a private housing society. She told the police that Chaudhry Farooq did not visit her on the day of the incident.

Similarly, police are also looking for a motorcyclist, who can be seen in the footage going to the hotel from the place where the car and the burnt body were found.

Police have also expanded the scope of the investigation and started searching for the accused through the data of the victim's mobile phone. The senior police officer said that they will soon get a breakthrough and trace the culprits.