Police arrest prime suspect in killing of nine family members

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested the prime suspect in the brutal murder of nine women and children in Miyal village, located in the suburbs of Rawalpindi.

The suspect Danish, son of Malik Rab Nawaz, has reportedly confessed to the killings during initial interrogation, saying he committed the murders to avenge his mother’s murder.

Police have arrested six people accused of being involved in the crime and are making efforts to arrest the main suspect, including Rab Nawaz, involved in the barbaric killing over a family dispute.

Four suspects have already been arrested including Danish and Akram, the sons of Rab Nawaz and his nephew Aqib and brother Ashraf. Police claimed that all those involved in the gruesome murders will be arrested.

Rawalpindi police have registered a case against 25 people over alleged involvement in the killing of at least nine women and children. The case was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other provisions on the complaint of Nazar Abbas.

According to the registered case, Danish, son of Malik Rab Nawaz, along with other persons, opened fire at Muhammad Arif’s house. Almost 10 unidentified persons are also included in the FIR.

Earlier on Saturday, the district police arrested four suspects and recovered weapons from them after a search operation was launched after an exchange of fire. Rawalpindi CPO Ahsan Younis along with his team and elite force launched the search operation in various parts of the city.

On July 24, an exchange of fire was reported between two groups near the Chauntra police station, which left nine dead, including women and children, and a three-year-old girl injured.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had also taken the notice of the incident and ordered the City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi to submit a report in this regard.