As many as 17 fugitives wanted in serious criminal cases and declared absconders through Red Warrants from Sargodha division have been brought back, with another 128 traced abroad and expected to be repatriated soon.
Regional Police Officer (RPO) Dr Shehzad Asif Khan has been spearheading a targeted campaign to trace and retrieve fugitives from Sargodha division hiding overseas, particularly those wanted in murder cases under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The crackdown on fugitives involved support from the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Interpol, facilitated by the Special Operations Cell of Sargodha Division.
One of the most high-profile arrests involved Nawazish Ali Hanjra alias Phallu, a proclaimed offender, who was traced and arrested in Spain through Interpol. Legal proceedings for his repatriation are currently underway.
Speaking on the development, RPO Dr Khan stated, "No criminal, no matter how clever or distant, can escape justice. We are committed to bringing every fugitive back to face the law."
A particularly significant case involved the murder of Muhammad Waris Khan in Khuduzai, Mianwali, on November 6, 2024.
The accused, Rustam Khan, allegedly killed Waris Khan over a longstanding enmity and went into hiding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A First Information Report (FIR No. 512/2024) was lodged by the victim's brother, Muhammad Arif Khan, at Kamar Meshani Police Station.
After the victim's family raised their concerns during an open court hearing in Pirpahai, the RPO ordered immediate action. A red warrant was issued, and the suspect was successfully tracked and arrested in a coordinated raid with KPK Police.
RPO Sargodha formed a dedicated task force under District Police Officer (DPO) Mianwali Capt. (R) Raja Muhammad Ajmal. The team, using modern tracking methods, not only apprehended the accused but also recovered the murder weapona Kalashnikov rifleused in the killing.
The victim's family publicly thanked the law enforcement team for their swift action and honoured them with traditional turbans and garlands in a gesture of appreciation.
DPO Mianwali later announced cash rewards and certificates of commendation for the team involved in the arrest.
Police sources said the repatriation of more fugitives traced abroad is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
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