LAHORE, Aug 3: The city police claimed on Thursday to have arrested four people involved in the murder of a businessman.

Shaikh Zahid had been kidnapped while he was going to his home in Cavalry Ground by a car after closing his shop in Shah Alam Market on Monday. The next day his bullet-ridden body was found in his car in Ichhra area.

Additional IGP Khwaja Khalid Farooq told media men on Thursday that four people - Amir Butt, Irfan, Rizwan, and Shakeel - had kidnapped Shaikh Zahid for ransom from Akbari Gate.

On their demand, Zahid contacted his daughter and asked the PIN code of an ATM card for drawing money for them. However, his daughter could not provide him the correct code.

Mr Farooq said on his direction DIG (operations) Aamir Zulifqar constituted two teams, comprising the Model Town SP, three supervisory officers and five SHOs, to probe into the matter.

The teams collected video recordings of the banks with ATM counters where Zahid had accounts. The AIG said some 20 men were placed under observation. Of them, two were declared prime suspects and were subsequently arrested while one of their accomplices was taken into custody from the funeral prayers of Mr Zahid while the other from his house.

Amir Butt of Gowalmandi told the police that Zahid had recognised him and that was the main reason for his killing. He said they had planned to demand Rs5 to Rs10 million as ransom from the family.

Khalid Farooq said criminal record of the accused had been checked while efforts to arrest their fifth accomplice were being made. Four pistols were recovered from their possession.

The AIG announced cash and certificates for the raiding teams. —Staff Reporter