The Civil Lines police on Monday arrested the killer of two sisters from their jurisdiction just two days after the chief minister took notice of police lethargy and following media coverage of the mother of the deceased.
A spokesperson for the Rawalpindi police said that the accused, Asad Mehmood, was arrested from Kotta Khurd village near Dhamial at 5am after he was declared a proclaimed offender by a court. Civil Lines Police Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Raja Shakeel has obtained four-day physical custody of the accused from Magistrate Adeel Majeed Qureshi to recover the pistol used in the double-murder, he added.
Mehmood seemed to have vanished after killing the two sisters in a private hostel near the Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer’s (RPO) office in Tariqabad and was arrested only after Mian Shahbaz Sharif took notice.
Some policemen confided to The Express Tribune that the man was hiding in a farmhouse owned by a local leader of the province’s ruling party, but the information could not be confirmed through any ranking officer.
Mehmood entered Al Noor Hostel on June 20 last year and shot dead Saira and Saima Naz, while Sobia Naz survived a gunshot to the face. He allegedly killed the sisters after Saima refused to marry him.
Since the day of the murder, the local police had failed to arrest Asad, who has relatives serving in the revenue department and has alleged ties with local politicians.
Shah Jahan Begum, and her only surviving child Sobia, tried and failed to meet the chief minister on March 10 when he was in Rawalpindi to inaugurate the Chandni Chowk Flyover.
Later, the women told the media that the police and lady constables had allegedly detained and harassed them.
Following the news reports, the CM took notice of the incident and directed the Inspector General of Punjab to look into the matter.
Yesterday, Haji Habibur Rehman visited Shah Jahan Begum’s home and assured the women that the killer will be arrested. Shah Jahan and her daughter alleged that senior police officers had not paid any attention to their repeated complaints as the killer’s family held influence over the police.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
yesterday i see on aaj news that police provide him vvip protocol in police station and he is enjoying in a luxury room providing by sho civil line.shame on u sho.
Suspected killers arrested and sent to jail? Seems if CJ or CM will not take notice no body will get arrested. Hats off to PAKISTAN POLICE. Khaatay jao