Sectarian violence: PHC told target killers may have crossed over to Punjab

Reports indicate 24-year-old woman murdered inside LRH was intoxicated.

PESHAWAR: A police investigation team on Tuesday told the Peshawar High Court (PHC) that culprits behind sectarian killings have most likely fled the provincial capital for Punjab.

During the hearing of a suo motu notice taken over sectarian motivated target killings in the city, Senior Superintendent Police Masood Khalil informed a division bench comprising PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Musarrat Hilali the police had arrested three suspects who later turned out to be dacoits, not target killers.

Khalil told the court the police department needs more time to nab the perpetrators. The bench later adjourned the hearing after directing the police team to expedite the process and arrest those behind the killings.

Several prominent members of the Shia community, including Dr Shahnawaz Ali and Advocate Jarar Hussain, have been gunned down in Peshawar this year.

In a separate case pertaining to the murder of a 24-year woman inside the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) premises on March 26, Punjab Forensic Laboratory tests indicated the presence of Ethanol in blood samples of Noor Bibi.



The sealed reports presented to the court stated Noor Bibi’s blood samples showed the presence of 0.035 grammes of Ethanol. Upon this, the bench observed Bibi had been intoxicated before her death and directed Khyber Medical College’s principal to file a complete report on the quantum and affect of the drug.

The court also directed the medical board to determine whether the said amount of Ethanol was sufficient to intoxicate the woman. The hearing was later adjourned till May 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.