Suspects in police 'informer's' murder killed in encounter

MIANWALI:

Two main suspects in the murder of an alleged police informer, Misl Khan, were killed in a police encounter, bringing an end to a high-profile case that had sparked widespread public concern and debate in Mianwali.

The deceased, identified as Kifayatullah alias "Murgha" and Zahid Groon, were considered key accused in the killing, which had drawn significant attention on social media and raised questions about the safety of informers assisting law enforcement.

According to police sources, the case dates back to August 2025, when Nasrullah alias "Khana Murgha"—brother of Kifayatullah and a proclaimed offender in multiple serious cases, was injured and arrested along with an accomplice, Jamshed, during a raid conducted by Makrwal police.

Police said Nasrullah suspected that Misl Khan, a labourer working in coal mines in the mountainous area, had informed authorities about his whereabouts.

He allegedly tasked his brother Kifayatullah and Jamshed's brother Zahid Groon with eliminating Misl Khan. In January 2026, the suspects allegedly opened indiscriminate fire on Misl Khan while he was at work in the hills, leaving him critically injured.

He later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. The killing triggered outrage online, with calls for justice trending on social media under slogans demanding protection for police informers.

The victim's widow and seven children also appealed for justice during an open court (khuli kachehri) held by Regional Police Officer Dr Muhammad Shahzad Asif Khan, who assured them that all resources would be utilised to bring the culprits to justice. Police said that tracking the suspects proved difficult due to the rugged terrain of the Makrwal–Chhapri–Isa Khel region and its proximity to the K-P border, which often allows fugitives to evade arrest.

However, acting on a tip-off, police teams led by SHO Makrwal Malik Fayyaz and SHO Chhapri Shafqatullah Khan launched a joint operation in the Chhapri hills, where the suspects were reportedly hiding along with several accomplices.