KARACHI: The prime suspect in Parveen Rehman's murder, Raheem Swati, has been arrested by Karachi police, said a statement released Saturday.

Following the Supreme Court of Pakistan's directives, a special police team was formed under orders from DIG West Feroz Shah. Under the supervision of SSP West, SP Orangi was selected to lead the operation to nab Swati, added the statement.

Swati had eight cell phone SIM cards registered under his name, which he had used at different times, although all were non-operational, claim police.

The police party received an intelligence tip-off regarding Swati's presence in the Manghopir area of the metropolis.

A raid was conducted at the given location, and Swati was arrested. Police claim to have recovered a 9mm pistol and a hand grenade from his possession.

Swati has been booked under Section 353, 324 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and also under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (7-ATA).

Hunt for Parveen's murderers

Parveen Rehman, a media-shy social worker who devoted her life to the development of the impoverished neighbourhoods across the country, was gunned down near her office in Orangi Town on March 13, 2013. The very next day, police killed a Taliban operative named Qari Bilal in an encounter and claimed that he was the murderer, resulting in closure of the case.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 15, 2014 ordered the authorities to conduct a fresh probe into the murder after a judicial inquiry revealed that police officers had manipulated the investigation.

One of the two prime suspects in her murder, Rahim Swati, was described by police in the Supreme Court last year as “a very shrewd character” who “keeps on changing his cell numbers as well as IMEIs [international mobile equipment identity].” His son, Imran, was already arrested in the case.

The other prime suspect in the case, Ahmed Khan alias Pappu Kashmiri was arrested from Mansehra in March 2015.

The police report last year said Rahim was associated with terrorists and the Taliban and during the past insurgency, he along with his family moved to some unknown place, while his house was demolished by the security forces.