ISLAMABAD: The main suspect in the murder of Malik Fahad, the nephew of a former Senate chairman, was brought to Islamabad on Thursday from Landi Kotal where he was being held after he was caught trying to flee the country at Torkham.

A capital police team was sent to Landi Kotal to bring Mr Arshad back for interrogation and investigation into the murder committed in August.

The team took custody of the suspect after obtaining a transit remand of him from the concerned authorities. He was brought to Islamabad amid tight security on Thursday and will be produced before the court of a magistrate on Friday to obtain his physical remand.

“He is in the custody of the police and the location where he is detained is being kept secret,” a police official said, adding that well-equipped police personnel were deployed around where he is being held.

The police official said Mr Arshad is an influential figure and there is a possibility that an attempt will be made to set him free, which is why precautionary measures were adopted during his transportation and for his detention.

Mr Arshad was caught trying to cross the Torkham border into Afghanistan last week. Immigration officers at the border found his passport cancelled and his name on the exit control list.

The suspect was taken into custody and later handed over to a political agent in the area, who detained him in a lockup in Landi Kotal, and a case was registered against him.

According to police officials, Mr Arshad had obtained a one month visa for Afghanistan from a consulate in Quetta on August 24 and planned to escape to Europe. They said visas for other countries were also found on his passport.

Malik Fahad, the nephew of former Senate chairman Mohammadmian Somro, was gunned down on August 15 on a service road in F-10/3.

The suspect had fought with the sons of Malik Tariq, Fahad’s uncle, at a cafe in F-11 during which Mr Arshad was beaten.

The police took both parties to the Shalimar police station where Fahad and Malik Tariq also arrived to mediate between the parties.

The issue was settled and both parties left after signing a written statement.

According to police officials, two cars had then intercepted the car in which Fahad was travelling and blocked their way into F-10/3.

Two men opened fire on Fahad and Malik Tariq. Malik Fahad received fatal bullet wounds while his uncle was injured.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2016