PESHAWAR/LAKKI MARWAT/KOHAT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Monday said the man, who was suspected of killing a medical college student for refusing marriage proposal, had fled to Saudi Arabia.

A statement issued by the inspector general of police office claimed that two men, including Mujahid Afridi and his brother Sadiqullah, had opened fire on the third-year medical college student, Asma Rani, in the Kohat Development Authority Township on Saturday afternoon.

The Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, student later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital with her brother, Mohammad Irfan, alleging that his sister and family had turned down suspected killer Mujahid Afridi’s proposal to marry her.

The statement said the investigation had revealed that suspect Mujahid Afridi flew to Jeddah from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, at 9pm on Jan 27 on a Saudi Airline flight, SV-889, and that his passport had an Umrah visa.

Police say FIA contacted for his arrest through Interpol

“It seems that Mujahid straight away left for Islamabad airport after committing the crime,” it added.

The statement said the police had contacted the Federal Investigation Agency for the issuance of red warrants for the arrest of the absconder through the Interpol.

It added that the police were conducting raids to arrest the other suspect, while a special investigation team had been constituted to investigate the case under the supervision of the Kohat district police officer.

Also on Monday, a video went viral on social media showing the deceased make the dying declaration. She named the suspected killer in choking voice.

Also in the day, the girl’s father, Ghulam Dastagir, demanded the government arrest the killers of his daughter within 24 hours.

He told reporters after funeral prayers in Naurang town of Lakki Marwat district that his daughter was killed over refusal to marry one of the suspected killers.

Mr Dastagir said he had moved to Kohat from Naurang town to help daughter realise her dream of becoming a medical practitioner.

He insisted that the suspected killers belonged to an influential family and therefore, they could influence investigation against them.

The girl’s father demanded that the Supreme Court chief justice direct the provincial government and police to ensure the arrest of suspected killers within 24 hours.

The deceased was laid to rest in Sheri graveyard near Naurang city.

The people from all walks of life attended the funeral prayer.

Meanwhile, the political and civic organisations will hold a demonstration in Naurang town today (Tuesday) against the medical student’s killing.

Local JUI-F leader Maulana Ibrahim Adhmi announced before the funeral prayer that the decision to hold a peaceful protest had been made after consultation.

He said the local residents saddened by the killing demanded the early arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprits.

Also in the day, the Kohat police raided the house of PTI district president Aftab Alam as part of efforts to arrest suspected killers, who are reported to be his nephews.

The police said as the suspects and PTI leader lived in the same house in Akbarabad locality, they interrogated the latter about the former’s whereabouts.

Mr Alam had planned to address a news conference at the Kohat Press Club on Monday night to clarify his position on the matter but it was postponed for unspecified reasons.

PTI MNA from Kohat Shahryar Afridi said the government would take the girl’s killers to task no matter who they were related to.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2018