Sehwan police on Saturday claimed to have arrested one of the main accused in the murder of Tania Khaskheli from the Darejo area of Balochistan.
Last Saturday — according to Tania's father, Ghulam Qadir Khaskheli — an influential wadera (feudal lord) of Jhangara Bajara town, Khan Noohani, along with his armed associates, had barged into the family's house and shot Tania dead.
The girl’s parents claimed that Khan had been pressing them to marry Tania to him, but they had turned down the proposal. They alleged that Khan had twice tried to kidnap the girl in the recent past.
On Saturday evening, they said, Khan, along with Maula Bukhsh Noohani and an unknown person, barged into their house and attempted to intimidate them with their weapons. They alleged that the armed men tried to take the girl away, but on strong resistance put up by the family, Khan got furious and shot dead Tania.
The family had said last Sunday that an FIR against Khan Noohani, Maula Bukhsh and the unknown person was lodged at the Jhangara Bajara police station, but the suspects were threatening them with dire consequences if the case was not withdrawn.
They had complained that police had not arrested the suspects immediately due to their political influence.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with Inspector General A.D. Khowaja, had on Friday visited the family and condoled Tania's death with her parents and other relatives.
The family and other residents of the neighbourhood told the CM that the area police were aware of the whereabouts of the killer but they did not lay hands on him as he was being protected by some influential figures of the area. He was informed that the murder and police’s reluctance to arrest the killer triggered a series of protests by civil society organisations in different parts of the province.
The CM had ordered the immediate arrest of the killer, as well the SHO of the area for his failure to act promptly to save her life.
The SHO was nabbed Friday evening.
Police have now said they have arrested Maula Bukhsh during a raid. The prime accused, Khan Noohani, remains at large.
