Sub-Inspector Ahsan Khan, a suspect named in the murder case of Sardar Arif, a supervisor at Ayub Teaching Institution, has surrendered before a court and was taken into police custody.
The development took place on Saturday during proceedings before Additional Sessions Judge VI Asfandyar Yousafzai concerning the possible cancellation of pre-arrest bail. A heavy police contingent took Ahsan Khan into custody, while tight security arrangements were maintained around the court.
Ahsan Khan had been suspended following the incident. The father of the deceased expressed satisfaction over the arrest of the primary suspect.
Meanwhile, another accused in the case, SHO Gunner Hamza Khan, has reportedly secured interim bail. According to the information provided, he did not appear in court during the latest proceedings after obtaining transit bail. No arguments were exchanged between the lawyers when Ahsan Khan appeared for arrest.
Details of the October 5 Incident
According to the case account, Sardar Arif was allegedly killed on October 5 after a dispute involving an Afghan neighbour. Sub-Inspector Ahsan Khan, Gunner Hamza Khan and others were accused of entering Arif’s home in broad daylight and opening fire in the presence of his wife and child.
The post-mortem report reportedly documented multiple gunshot wounds and fractures in both of the victim’s legs.
The account further states that police transported the body to Ayub Teaching Institution. After staff identified the deceased as one of their own, employees staged a protest lasting around five hours and blocked both sides of the main Karakoram Highway.
The protest continued until a first information report (FIR) was registered at Mirpur Police Station, naming the accused.
Health Workers Had Demanded Arrests
The Paramedics Union of Ayub Teaching Institution and the Grand Health Alliance had also set a deadline for the arrest of the main suspects.
The killing triggered widespread grief across Abbottabad. Sardar Arif was the son of Sardar Abdul Rashid, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The allegations against the named suspects remain subject to legal proceedings.