HARIPUR: A sub-inspector was arrested on charges of abetting the murder of two brothers, police said here on Wednesday. The officer was detained after a statement in court by two accused charged in the FIR followed by a departmental inquiry that found him guilty, an official said.

“Police have arrested Sub-Inspector Qazi Ajmal of the investigation wing on charges of abetment in honour killing of two brothers four days ago,” SHO city Ijaz Ali confirmed to Dawn. He said the accused sub-inspector was produced before a magistrate, and his two-day physical remand was obtained for the purpose of interrogation.

According to an FIR registered with the city police station on January 3, brothers Mohammad Azam and Fazale Raziq, were travelling in a rickshaw after visiting Saddar police station on Friday night when their rivals allegedly ambushed them.

The injured were rushed to the trauma centre, but doctors pronounced them as brought dead. The family accused Sub-Inspector Qazi Ajmal of being part of the murder plot as the slain brothers were invited to the police station by the said officer in connection with investigation into the complaint about ‘kidnapping’ of a girl.

Hazara RPO assures family of legal support in bringing all accused to justice

As per the FIR, six accused were charged for the double murder and the police have arrested a couple of them, who have confessed and recorded statements before the court under section 164 of CrPC that the sub-inspector facilitated the murder of their rivals.

The motive behind double murder, according to the FIR, was family’s honour as one of the slain brothers, Mohammad Azam had solemnised court marriage with the daughter of Shamraiz about a month ago, and the girl’s family was not happy with their decision.

Azam, according to his family, was called to the police station by the sub-inspector asking him to collect his mobile phone and some other belongings that the police had seized after his arrest on charges of kidnapping.

The police officer, according to the family, also assured Azam of providing him security but instead facilitated his killing.

Meanwhile, Hazara regional police officer Nasir Mehmood Sati met with the bereaved family and assured them of every legal support in taking the accused to justice and providing security to them.

Meanwhile, RPO Sati on Wednesday directed the police to further improve and strengthen the security of the Chinese engineers and workers busy on different projects in Haripur.

This he said during a visit to the 5th hydropower project of Tarbela Dam, where he met with the Chinese workers and engineers.

The RPO reviewed the security arrangements at the dam, and asked the police to further strengthen it for smooth completion of the project.

He said the police were ensuring foolproof security to the Chinese nationals.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2025