LAHORE: With no arrests made so far in murder of PPP leader Babar Sohail Butt, the investigators say the prime suspect was a hired assassin while party’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari termed the PML-N government “murderous” expressing distrust over investigation.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari, who visited the residence of Butt to offer condolence to the bereaved family, told reporters that his party members had been murdered in Punjab and some government figures were linked to the killings.

“We demand justice. We want them (suspects) arrested and fair and impartial investigation should be conducted so that his (Butt’s) family could get justice”.

He said it was the second incident in Punjab in which a PPP leader was targeted, in a reference to recent attack on the party’s information secretary Shoukat Basra in which his personal secretary was murdered.

Terming Butt’s murder outrageous, Mr Bilawal said PML-N had reverted to its “old tactics” and the PPP would not tolerate it.

He said no action was yet taken against the PML-N MNA booked for the murder.

“They (govt) just constituted a fact-finding committee and it’s not enough,” the PPP chairperson said, demanding the ruling party lawmaker should be arrested and investigated.

Punjab PPP secretary general Nadeem Afzal Chan and former MNA Samina Khalid Ghurki were also present on the occasion.

A senior police officer on condition of anonymity told Dawn that the initial investigation revealed that the main suspect, Atif Butt, was hired to kill Butt by his rivals.

He said they were conducting raids to arrest the main suspect and legal process to include MNA Sohail Shaukat Butt in investigation had been started.

Babar Butt was killed at his residence in Sharifpura, Manawan, late on Sunday.

According to FIR, suspects Atif alias Ati Butt, Irfan Jutt and Atif Jutt stormed the residence and opened fire at Babar Butt and his two brother.

His brothers took shelter in an adjacent room to save their lives, while Butt suffered bullet wounds and was taken to Services Hospital where he later expired.

Manawan police registered a murder case, including Section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) against the three suspects who allegedly committed the crime at the behest of PML-N MNA Sohail Shaukat Butt, Shafqat Ali alias Baga Butt and Sabi Nur Butt.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2017