Man who staged wife’s murder put on watch list

Police say suspect has gone into hiding after committing crime

RAWALPINDI:

A man, who allegedly hanged his wife to death and staged her murder as a suicide in Dhok Kangal in the limits of Rawalpindi police station on Sunday, has gone into hiding along with his brother.

According to the first information report (FIR) registered at the Airport police station by the victim’s brother Ali Raza Khokhar, the victim had been married to Farrukh Imtiaz Khokhar for the last 14 years. The couple had four children one of whom passed away.

On Monday, the police sent the information and details of the case to the FIA Immigration with the apprehension that the accused might escape abroad and recommended that if any of the accused reaches any airport for travel, the Rawalpindi police should be informed.

The complaint stated that Farrukh would regularly berate and issue life threats to his wife. He added that he had received a threatening call from Farrukh a few hours after finding out about his sister’s death. “He told me that I was next,” the FIR quoted him as saying.

However, the police investigated the circumstances and filed a murder case against the victim's husband Farrukh and his brother Samar Khokhar on the application given by Ali Raza, the brother of the victim and started raids to arrest the accused.

The two accused went into hiding after committing the crime. A senior police officer told The Express Tribune that Farrukh and the other accused named in the FIR might fly abroad, therefore, their details, photos and relevant records including the FIR have been sent to FIA Immigration and recommended that the accused should be kept on watch list.

If any of the accused try to go abroad, the Rawalpindi police should be informed immediately. The FIR alleged that Farrukh was responsible for staging the murder as suicide.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2023.