KOHAT: The police on Monday arrested four members of the family of the murdered NGO worker, Hina Shahnawaz, including the alleged mastermind of the killing.

Zulfiqar Ali alias Bhutto, the planner the murder, was traced from Rawalpindi, while his three accomplices, Riaz Ali, Shah Alam and Moshim Ali, a suspended policeman, were rounded up from Kohat.

The prime suspect in the murder, Mehboob Alam, and four other members of the jirga which ordered the woman’s killing, are still at large.

SP operations Tariq Mehmood told a press conference that after the arrest of Zulfiqar Ali from Rawalpindi the police raided several places in Kohat and took into custody his three accomplices.

SP Mehmood said after the high profile murder an investigation team headed by SP investigations Sanaullah Marwat was formed to solve the case.

The FIR registered by the victim’s sister, Mehreen, provided main lead to the police. However, the ambit of investigations was expanded due to the conflicting reports about the case and appearance of the alleged killer, Mehboob Alam, on social media pleading his innocence.

He had said there were other people involved in the case, but they had not been mentioned in the FIR because the Hina’s family wanted to protect them.

Mr Mehmood said according to the investigation officer a jirga of the male family members was held in which the decision of killing Ms Shahnawaz was taken.

On Feb 7, the main accused, Mehboob, who is the first cousin of Ms Shahnawaz, went to her house and asked her to quit the NGO job, but she refused. Then he pulled out a pistol and shot her dead.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017