ISLAMABAD: Two of the four persons who were killed over an old enmity in Bhara Kahu on Thursday were on bail before arrest in a murder case registered on January 1.

This was stated by a police spokesman on Friday.

Raja Nasir Hanif and his associate Advocate Haroon Qadeer were on bail in connection with the killing of Raja Zaryab in Phulgran.

The spokesman said Raja Nasir was also on bail in scores of other cases registered against him in different police stations, including Bhara Kahu. The cases were registered on different charges, including murder, land grabbing, extortion and brawls. At least seven murder cases were registered against Raja Nasir, including the murder of a man from Mandokhel tribe who was brother of a senior bureaucrat and relative of a senator, he added.

Raja Nasir obtained bail before arrest in the murder case of Raja Zaryab last month but the Bhara Kahu police arrested him from outside the court in connection with another case, the spokesman said. However, he was released on the order of court after the bar association staged protests against his arrest.

Say scores of cases registered against the two men

His associate, Advocate Haroon Qadeer, who provided legal assistance to Raja Nasir, used the platform of the bar to avoid legal action against him, the spokesman said, adding that Advocate Qadeer was also on bail before arrest in connection with the murder of Raja Zaryab.

“Raja Nasir operated a gang to grab land owned by local people,” the spokesman said.

The two other persons murdered along with Raja Nasir were his guards, he added.

Over the killing, a case was registered with Bhara Kahu police in response to a complaint lodged by Raja Ishrat Hanif, brother of Raja Nasir, against 19 people under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) along with 302, 324, 148, 149, 109 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the spokesman said, adding 11 people were nominated in the FIR.

So far, police have arrested two of them while efforts are in progress to arrest the remaining suspects, he added.

The spokesman said Advocate Qadeer’s father Raja Abdul Qadeer also got registered a case against a man, describing him as a land grabber, under 7-ATA and section 436, 437, 452, 148 and 149 of the PPC.

According to the FIR, the man with assistance of his armed accomplices used to grab private land, including graveyards, in Phulgran.

The suspect was also trying to grab the complainant’s land, the FIR said, adding that he also got registered a fake case against the complainant’s son Haroon Qadeer on Jan 1.

“On January 1, the land grabber tried to grab his land and later attacked the house of his son and brother,” the FIR said, adding they also set the house of his son on fire.

The police were informed about the incident but no action was taken against the attackers and neither a case was registered, the FIR said.

Meanwhile, a case was also registered over the killing of a man during a clash between two groups of villagers at Bobri Malata locality of Phulgran on Thursday.

Raja Mohammad Zia in the FIR nominated 11 people and some unidentified persons under 302, 3245, 148, 149 and 109 of the PPC, the spokesman said. So far, the police have arrested two of the suspects.

According to the FIR, the suspects armed with weapons, sticks, iron rods and stones attacked the complainant and his four companions when they were present at their land.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2022