SAHIWAL: The man allegedly involved in knife attacks on women in Sahiwal and Chichawatni in 2015-16 has been missing from his village, 86/6-R, for the last five months, according to his family.

Law-enforcement agencies personnel grilled the father and brother of Waseem after reports of the similar attacks on women in Karachi, and learned the youth had left home for Lahore or Gujranwala for work five months ago.

Regional Police Officer Tariq Rustam Chohan told reporters the Karachi attacks were similar to those of Sahiwal and Chichawatni cities.

Dawn learnt that Superintendent of Police from Sindh Hyder Zaman was also in Sahiwal to collect the crime record of Waseem who was arrested in 2016 for attacks on 10 women in Sahiwal and Chichawatni. These attacks were reported with Farid Town, Sahiwal City, Sahiwal Saddar and Chichwatni police stations.

Waseem along with friends Izhar and Nazakat was captured by police near Azadi Chowk, Sahiwal, carrying pistols, sharp blades and knives.

A police source said Waseem could not justify the presence of sharp blades and knives. He was sent to jail but was released on bail.

His two married sisters live in Gujranwala; but he was not also found in Gujranwala.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2017