KARACHI: Police have reportedly arrested the main suspect involved in the killing of journalist Athar Mateen from Khuzdar district of Balochistan.
The accused, Abid Ameen, who was involved in the murder of the journalist during a robbery bid in Karachi was arrested during a joint raid carried out by Sindh Police and law enforcement agencies. Police have also arrested four other accomplices during the raid.
Balochistan government has confirmed the arrest from Khuzdar district of the province. Parliamentary Secretary to Balochistan CM on Information Bushra Rind said that the prime suspect was apprehended after Sindh police identified his presence in Khuzdar. Rind said the prime suspect is a resident of Khuzdar and a joint raid was carried out by Sindh and Balochistan police for his arrest.
Unidentified armed men opened fire on a vehicle in Karachi’s Nazimabad area killing a local journalist identified as Athar Mateen who was attempting to foil a mugging bid.
Police had initially claimed the journalist attempted to foil a mugging bid when the incident occurred. They said the criminals were looting a citizen when Mateen hit them with his vehicle, upon which they opened fire and killed him on the spot.
SSP Central Maroof Usman said Athar was shot three times and we have recovered two empty casings of 30-bore pistol. The deceased journalist had remained associated with working with a private news channel. The killing was widely condemned by the journalist community and political personalities who decried the increasing lawlessness and street crimes in the city.
