News Desk: Quetta Police have arrested five suspects, including the alleged gunman and two men accused of conducting reconnaissance before the attack, in the murder case of businessman Hashim Noorzai, officials said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Quetta Imran Shaukat said investigators had also recovered the weapon allegedly used in the killing during raids based on information provided by the arrested suspects.
According to the DIG, the victim’s vehicle was intercepted by Hikmatullah and three accomplices before the attack. Hikmatullah allegedly opened fire on Noorzai while he was inside his vehicle and then got out to fire additional shots, ensuring the victim’s death.
Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the murder stemmed from a financial dispute involving Rs160 million. The five arrested suspects include Hikmatullah, the alleged shooter, and two individuals accused of monitoring the victim’s movements before the attack.
The DIG said Hikmatullah’s brother, Saadullah, remains absconding, and police have launched raids to arrest him. He revealed that Saadullah allegedly attended both the protest held after the murder and the victim’s condolence gathering in an apparent attempt to avoid suspicion.
Describing the case as a murder committed by a close associate, Imran Shaukat said the investigation established that the victim and the main accused knew each other. He praised the investigation team for solving the case and arresting the suspects in record time, adding that efforts are continuing to apprehend the remaining accused and complete the investigation.
