LAHORE: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) reportedly arrested on Saturday another suspect, Umar Hayat, from a road near the Punjab University New Campus, in the murder case of Mubashar Khokhar, the brother of ruling PTI MPA Malik Asad Khokhar (now a minister).

Mubashar was shot dead on Friday night during the wedding ceremony of Asad’s son that was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other senior leaders of the PTI.

The latest arrest was made on the basis of information gleaned from the prime suspect, Nazim, who was taken into custody by chief minister’s security staff on the spot, shortly after the armed attack.

As per initial investigation, Nazim used to be an employee (bodyguard) of the Khokhar family and had served them for many years, a police official told Dawn on Friday.

He said Nazim told the police interrogators that he had allegedly killed Mubhashar to avenge murder of his brother, who was shot dead some 21 years ago when he (Nazim) was employed by the Khokhars, who had rivalry with some residents of Manowal in Chunhg area.

Prime suspect says he used to be Khokhars’ bodyguard, had a grudge against them

Meanwhile, he said, Nazim’s relative Mohammad Mansha was allegedly shot dead, who was an eyewitness to the murder of his (Nazim’s) brother.

He said the police lodged murder case of Mansha against Nazim, who was convicted and had to serve eight-year term in the case.

After his release from the jail one and a half years back, Nazim decided to take revenge from Mubashar and his brothers for not supporting him in the murder case, despite being their loyal employee and bodyguard.

According to Nazim, the police official said, he wanted to kill all the three brothers but could not get a chance as they would move amid tight security.

As he came to know about the wedding of Asad Khokhar’s son in Phase 7 of DHA, he turned up at the venue along with Umar Hayat, armed with a 30-bore pistol.

The police official said on finding an opportunity, Nazim fired a bullet on Mubashar that pierced through his head.

He said as Nazim fired the second bullet, targeting the other brother, it stuck in the pistol, attracting attention of the chief minister’s security staff, which overpowered him on the spot.

Nazim told the police that his accomplice Umar was also accompanying him when he reached the wedding ceremony.

To a question, the police official said, the suspects dodged the police security and reached inside the wedding venue an hour before the arrival of Punjab chief minister there.

He said Umar allegedly brought the prime suspect, Nazim, to the venue on a bike and left the place shortly after the firing incident.

He said the station house officers (SHOs) of three police stations had been deployed for security of the function, along with over 40 policemen, besides some other senior officers, including Cantonment SP (Operations), for supervision of the security arrangements.

He said the police got cell phone number of Umar from Nazim, traced his mobile phone’s location and nabbed him near the Punjab University’s New Campus when he was on a bike.Meanwhile, the police lodged case of Mubashar Khokhar’s murder, nominating Umar Hayat and Nazim and three unidentified suspects.

In the FIR, the complainant, Ali Hamza, alleged that Nazim and his accomplice Umar shot his uncle Mubashar Khokhar and injured a guest, Malik Umar, during the wedding ceremony of his brother, Mohammad Husnain, at their farmhouse located at U Block, Phase 7 of the DHA, Lahore, on Friday.

He said the suspects killed his uncle for pursuing the murder case of Mohammad Mansha (Nazim’s relative).

Meanwhile, Mubashar Khokhar was laid to rest on Saturday in the graveyard of his native village, Manowal, on Multan Road.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2021