Umrah scam suspect netted

RAWALPINDI:

Sadiqabad police claimed on Friday to have arrested a highly skilled con artist who targeted elderly citizens by deceiving them with promises of facilitating Umrah pilgrimages, recovering stolen items worth millions of rupees from the suspect.

Using smooth talk and religious pretexts, the suspect gained access to victims' homes, where he stole significant amounts of cash, jewelry, and other valuables.

According to Operations SSP Kashif Zulfiqar, stolen items worth over Rs9 million have been recovered from the suspect and returned to their rightful owners.

For several months, the accused had been operating across Rawalpindi, particularly preying on elderly and unsuspecting individuals. He would gain their confidence by presenting himself as a facilitator for religious travel, then use that trust to access their homes and rob them—either by stealth or deception.

At least seven cases of a similar nature had been registered against the suspect at Sadiqabad, New Town, Pirwadhai, and Morgah police stations. His activities had become a serious concern for law enforcement.

To apprehend the criminal, Rawalpindi City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani assigned the case to Rawal SP Muhammad Haseeb and Sadiqabad SHO Luqman Javed. The investigation team worked in collaboration with technical and IT experts to trace the suspect.

Following a recent incident in Sadiqabad involving another elderly victim, investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the area, leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect, Qaiser Hussain, a resident of Tench Bhatta. During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in multiple such incidents.

Police officials confirmed that valuables worth over Rs9m, stolen over a series of incidents, have been recovered.