MANSEHRA: The police on Saturday arrested former minister Ibrar Hussain alias Iqbal and four others accused of killing a woman dancer after a local court cancelled their transit bails.

“We [police] booked seven people, including a woman, for the dancer’s murder and five of them have been taken into custody after the cancellation of their [transit] bails by additional and sessions judge Wajid Ali Khan,” investigation officer Arshad Khan told reporters.

The court ordered the arrest of the accused, including Ibrar Hussain, Raheel Tanoli, Mian Amir, Gulfaraz and Mohammad Sajid, after hearing their counsel and public prosecutor Samira Alqawi Swati.

It, however, granted bail to a woman, who took the deceased to the Aug 12 dance function organised by former tehsil councillor Mohammad Jamshed, who is already in the police custody, in his Thakara house here.

Police say main accused paid blood money to deceased’s family

The former minister had allegedly killed dancer Kiran for stopping him from groping her during the performance and disposed of the body with the help of the accused, including Raheel Tanoli and Mian Amir.

Her family, which belongs to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, denied she was a dancer.

Police investigator Arshad Khan said all five arrested would be produced before a local magistrate on Sunday (today) for the grant of physical remand.

He said the deceased’s family had received diyat (blood money) from the main accused but the latter continued to be behind bars due to the inclusion of Section 311 of PPC in the case in light of his criminal record.

The accused were booked under sections 302, 201, 202, 203, 148 and 149 of PPC.

PROTEST: Flood victims from Manoor valley here on Saturday demonstrated against a delay in their rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, schools and bridges.

“Floodwaters swept away houses, schools, vehicles, bridges, roads and other infrastructure last month but the government has yet to carry out relief and rehabilitation activities,” a protester said.

The protesters from Manoor valley gathered outside the Mansehra Press Club and shouted slogans against both federal and provincial governments for ‘ignoring’ them.

They said the valley was destroyed by the Aug 25 monsoon disaster but water and electric supply had yet to be restored.

“We have no electric supply since floods swept away micro hydropower plants last month,” a protester said.

He demanded the early resumption of electric supply as well as the start of classes in tents and prefabricated shelters.

The protesters also complained about the spread of diseases and said medical teams should be sent to the valley to check the rising incidence of gastroenteritis and skin diseases.

They also criticised the local lawmakers and administration officials over ‘failure’ to visit the area to ensure the provision of emergency relief to the residents.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2022