Suspect in businessman's murder sent to jail

FAISALABAD:

A suspect arrested for the murder of industrialist Mian Rehan Ashraf during a carjacking was transferred to the district jail for an identification parade, police said on Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Umair Khalid, was produced before Area Magistrate Asadullah Khattak by Sadar police investigation officer Sub-Inspector Atif before being sent to jail.

Police said the identification parade would be arranged, during which the complainant would be asked to identify the suspect.

According to police, Ashraf was shot dead on Jaranwala Road on the night of October 15 after he pursued his stolen vehicle.

The car had allegedly been snatched from an employee of a valet parking service outside Chenab Club in the Civil Lines police station area.

Police said Ashraf tracked the vehicle and followed it after receiving an alert that it had left the parking area.

Believing that the valet employee had driven away with his car, he also informed police through Rescue 15 and began pursuing the vehicle using its tracking system.

The stolen car was eventually found amid traffic near a restaurant on Jaranwala Road. When Ashraf reached the vehicle, he allegedly opened the door and reprimanded the valet employee, who had been forced at gunpoint to drive the car.

As Ashraf sat in the front seat, Khalid, who was allegedly hiding in the back seat, opened fire.

A bullet struck Ashraf in the neck, killing him at the scene, police said.

Investigators said the suspect had allegedly threatened the valet employee with a weapon before forcing him into the driver's seat and escaping in the vehicle. He later abandoned the car and fled.

Police teams led by City Police Officer Tanveer Hussain and SSP Operations Imran Malik used CCTV footage to identify the suspect.

He was arrested in the Shahkot area five days after the incident. Police said they had recovered the alleged murder weapon, a motorcycle and the clothes he was wearing on the day of the incident.

During preliminary interrogation, Khalid told investigators that he had been struggling with financial hardship and wanted to move to Saudi Arabia in search of a better life.

An overseas employment agent had reportedly demanded Rs1.5 million to arrange his travel, but he did not have the money.

Police said Khalid, a kabaddi player and father of two, was allegedly influenced by films and believed that robbing wealthy people would provide a shortcut to achieving his ambitions.

Investigators said he had targeted Chenab Club because he expected affluent people to be present there.

According to the police account, Khalid parked his motorcycle at the Hilal-e-Ahmar Hospital parking area and walked to the club's car park.

Seeing the valet employee in a suit approaching the vehicle, he allegedly mistook him for the car's owner and forced him at gunpoint to drive.

Police said the suspect had no previous criminal record and was the son of a retired police constable, Khalid. Investigators also presented him before the valet employee, who reportedly identified him.

 

HIGHLIGHT

 

As Ashraf sat in the front seat, Khalid, who was allegedly hiding in the back seat, opened fire