Police Resolve Murder Case of Journalist Malik Hassan Zaib
The police have claimed to have solved the murder case of journalist Malik Hassan Zaib, who was shot dead in Akbarpura Bazaar, Nowshera district, on July 14. The District Police Officer (DPO) Azhar Khan revealed that the investigation led to the arrest of two key suspects.
Zaib, a reporter for Daily Aaj, was gunned down by unidentified armed motorcyclists as he and his brother, Anwar Zeb, arrived at their shop. The assailants, masked and on bikes, opened indiscriminate fire, causing multiple injuries to the journalist. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries en route.
DPO Azhar Khan stated that the provincial government and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan had taken swift notice of the case, ensuring a thorough investigation. Three investigation teams, led by Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Alamzeb Khan, Deputy Superintendent of Police Pabbi Circle Jawad Khan, and Akbarpura Police Station House Officer Niaz Muhammad, were formed to explore various angles, including domestic, business, and potential terrorism links.
The investigation revealed that Malik Hassan Zeb had ongoing disputes with the brothers of his first wife and a financial conflict with Muhammad Ashfaq over a plot payment.
Muhammad Ashfaq and his son Yasir were arrested and confessed to their involvement. Ashfaq disclosed that after a dispute over the plot payment, Zeb had beaten him and detained him at Lal Sher’s residence in Peshawar. Later, his son, Muhammad Zohaib, a clerk at an academy in Risalpur, was also detained and beaten.
Following these incidents, Ashfaq and Zohaib were released through the intervention of property dealer Naeem. They accused the journalist of violating their privacy and dignity, which escalated the conflict.
Anwar Zeb, Malik Hassan Zeb’s brother, officially nominated Muhammad Ashfaq, his son Muhammad Zohaib, and an unidentified accomplice for the murder in the court of Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate-I, Liaqat Khan Mohmand. SP (Investigation) Alamzeb Khan stated that raids were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the murder.
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