Category: Crime

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  • Suspect allegedly tortured to death in Narowal; police calls it suicide

    Suspect allegedly tortured to death in Narowal; police calls it suicide

    A suspect being held in the custody of the Shah Gharib Police Station in Narowal was allegedly tortured to death while police claimed that he had committed suicide.

    A case has also been registered against two officials for negligence, Dawn reports.

    The victim was identified as Muhammad Farooq, son of Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of village Kadiala who was in police custody on charge of motorcycle theft.

    He was found dead in the lock-up. His family has alleged that he was in the custody of the police for the last many days and that police tortured him to death during the interrogation. They outright rejected police claims of suicide.

    Ghulam Mustafa, the spokesperson for the local district police, said police arrested the suspect in theft cases. On August 31 (Saturday), after Fajr’s prayers, a constable checked the lock-up and found Farooq had committed suicide by tying hanging. He added that Farooq had confessed to stealing 11 motorcycles. Police recovered four motorcycles from him, while seven were yet to be recovered.

    District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Naveed Malik took notice of the death of the suspect in police lock-up and sought forensic analysis and a judicial inquiry.

    While Farooq’s family appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar to take immediate notice of the situation, DSP/SDPO Shakargarh Shehbaz Cheema registered an FIR of the incident claiming that CCTV footage from the police station showed Farooq putting a noose around his neck and hanging himself by the door of the washroom.

    He stressed that the suspect committed suicide due to the negligence of moharar and constable, and a case was registered against them in Shah Gharib Police Station.

  • Boy arrested in Mandi Bahauddin for stealing milk packet from grocery shop

    Boy arrested in Mandi Bahauddin for stealing milk packet from grocery shop

    An FIR was registered against a boy named Suleman, also known as Chotu, who was arrested at a local grocery shop for allegedly stealing a milk packet in Mandi Bahauddin.

    An FIR was registered at Phalia Police Station in the Mandi Bahauddin district concerning the alleged theft of a milk packet from a shop.

    Express Tribune reported that the incident took place on August 20 at approximately 3:50 PM at a small shop owned by Haji Arif in Hayat Gali. However, it was reported to the police on August 30.

    The complaint was lodged by head constable Muhammad Iqbal of Phalia Police Station.

    The suspect, identified as Suleman alias Chotu, son of Sardar, was arrested on suspicion of the crime on August 31, 2024, at 8:00 am.

    The First Information Report was filed under Section 379 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which pertains to theft.

    The details of the case show that the suspect allegedly stole a milk packet from the shop while wielding a knife, the shopkeeper’s wife, Shahida, said in her statement.

    After receiving the information, the police questioned Suleman, who subsequently confessed to the theft.

    The FIR was formally registered following his confession.

  • Woman thrown off rooftop by in-laws in Lahore

    Woman thrown off rooftop by in-laws in Lahore

    A woman from Shadbagh, Lahore, was allegedly tortured and thrown off the roof of her house by her husband and in-laws.

    Geo News reported that Laiba was pushed off from the house’s roof.

    Police say that after the incident, Laiba was shifted to Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital in a critical condition.

    Police have registered a case on the complaint of Laiba’s father, in which it is said that the 24-year-old woman was married to Bilal Khan of Shadbagh around six years ago. Bilal is said to be a drug addict.

    In the FIR, the victim’s father also accused his son-in-law Bilal and his father, Umar Daraz, of assaulting Laiba.

    Police have arrested Umar Daraz, too.

    Police say that raids are being conducted to arrest the other suspects involved in the act.

  • Pakistani man in Australia jailed for posing as Youtube star, forcing girls into sexual acts

    Pakistani man in Australia jailed for posing as Youtube star, forcing girls into sexual acts

    A Pakistani man posing as a famous YouTuber blackmailed hundreds of young girls around the globe into performing sexual acts on camera. He has been jailed for 17 years in Australia.

    Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed pleaded guilty to 119 charges relating to 286 people from 20 countries, including the UK, the US, Japan and France. Notably, two-thirds of his victims were aged under 16.

    A court in Australia heard the case in which 29-year-old Zain was found guilty of coercing the victims into a cycle of abuse by threatening to send explicit messages and images of them to their loved ones.

    Australian authorities say it is “one of the worst sextortion cases” in their national history.

    “The callous disregard this man had for his victims around the world and their distress, humiliation and fear make it one of the most horrific sextortion cases prosecuted in Australia,” said Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner David McLean.

    Judge Amanda Burrows said Rasheed’s offence was of such magnitude that, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), there was “no comparable case” in the country.

    Zain-ul-Abideen used to pretend to be a 15-year-old American internet star and would strike up a conversation with his targets and then involve them in discussions related to sexual fantasies.

    He would then threaten them to send their responses to friends and family unless they performed a series of escalating, “degrading” sex acts – which at times also included family pets and other children in their home.

    The judge was told about Zain being involved in misogynistic “incel” communities online and on several occasions, had invited other people – in one case as many as 98 – to watch the distressing acts on a live stream.

    Many of the children told him that they were experiencing suicidal thoughts. One of them sent images of self-harm, but Rasheed continued his blackmail despite the children’s “obvious distress” and “extreme fear”, the judge pointed out.

    The accused was arrested after Australian authorities were contacted by Interpol and US investigators. He was then charged in 2020 after a police raid on his home.

    Rasheed is already serving a five-year prison term for sexually abusing a 14-year-old twice in his car outside a Perth park.

    The court heard he is engaged in a sex offender treatment programme, but Rasheed still carries a high risk of reoffending. The court also ruled that he will only be eligible to apply for parole in August 2033.

  • Senior army officer kidnapped from Dera Ismail Khan along with two brothers

    Senior army officer kidnapped from Dera Ismail Khan along with two brothers

    Update

    Terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday released footage of a senior army officer and his brothers, were kidnapped from Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday, and set out demands for the release of the Colonel.

    The officer and his brothers were kidnapped from a mosque in their native area where they were receiving condolences on the death of their father.

    In the videos, two of the abducted men first assured viewers that the men were “safe and sound, and far away from government-controlled areas.”

    “We are in the custody of the Taliban. We request the government to accept their demands as soon as possible to ensure our release,” said the two men.

    Interestingly, both men emphasised to their relatives not to post anything about their kidnapping on social media and only contact higher authorities to accept TTP’s demands.

    Journalist Iftikhar Firdous revealed that the TTP has demanded the release of several TTP affiliates, including Latif Mehsud, who was jailed by the United States in Bagram in 2013, and Muslim Khan, who is the former spokesman of TTP in Swat.

    Firdous also stated that Rs 30 million in ransom and some more TTP affiliates are included in the “demanded prisoners swap.”

    In the footage, two militants can be seen standing behind the victims, bearing rifles.

    There has been no official statement by the ISPR.

    Previous

    An army officer and two of his brothers were kidnapped on August 28 from Dera Ghazi Khan by unknown men while they were meeting with people who had come to offer condolences on their father’s death, Dawn News has reported.

    The officer’s two brothers were serving in the Cantonment Board Head Office, Rawalpindi, and the other was working for the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

    Reportedly, they were in a mosque in Mohalla Khadr Khel of Kalachi tehsil, receiving people who’d come to offer their condolences on their father’s demise, when suspected militants came and forcefully took them away.

    The three officers had come to their ancestral land for funeral prayers of their father, which was offered on Tuesday.

    A few weeks ago, in a separate incident on August 1, a private security company’s van carrying Rs40 million was hijacked by armed suspects. The militants later released the hostages and fled with the cash.

    Likewise, on April 27, District and Sessions Judge South Waziristan Shakir Ullah Marwat was abducted by unidentified kidnappers on Dera Ismail Khan’s Tank Road; however, he was later released. Journalist Azaz Syed alleged that the judge was released after the KP government paid five crores to terrorists as extortion.

  • Natasha’s husband, CEO Gul Ahmed Energy, granted pre-arrest bail

    Natasha’s husband, CEO Gul Ahmed Energy, granted pre-arrest bail

    Sindh High Court (SHC) has granted a seven-day protective pre-arrest bail to Danish Iqbal, the husband of Natasha Danish, the suspect in the Karsaz accident case.

    The court directed Danish Iqbal to furnish a solvent surety of Rs50,000 or surrender himself before the trial court before September 4.

    Danish Iqbal, through his counsel, told the high court that even though the suspect had been arrested, the applicant had also been named during the investigation. His lawyer contended that the police had been raiding Danish’s home and other places to arrest him while there was nothing to connect him with the alleged offence.

    The lawyer contended that investigating officer of the case sent letters to provide documents about ownership of the vehicle registered with Danish’s company and they were provided to the officer but he again sent a notice under Section 160 of the Pakistan Penal Code for similar purpose and with an ulterior motive.

    Read more: What will Natasha be charged with now that an illegal substance has been found in her medical report?

    Danish’s counsel sought a two-week protective bail to enable the applicant to approach the IO and join the investigation.

    After a preliminary hearing, Justice Muhammad Saleem Jesser, in his order, said: “Prima facie, without dilating upon the merits and demerits of the case, applicant Danish Iqbal, son of Iqbal Ali Mohammad is now granted protective pre-arrest bail in crime No.229/2024, under Sections 320, 337-G, 279, 247 PPC read with Section 322 PPC, registered with PS Bahadurabad, Karachi, for seven days subject to furnishing his solvent surety in the sum of Rs.50,000 and PR bond in the like amount to the satisfaction of Nazir of this court”.

    It added that this bail shall cease to have effect on September 4 or whenever the applicant approaches/surrenders before the court having jurisdiction, whichever is earlier.

    The prosecution had claimed that Natasha Danish has been accused of recklessly driving the Toyota Land Cruiser in an accident near Karsaz on August 19.

    Who is Danish Iqbal?

    Danish Iqbal is the chief executive officer of Gul Ahmed Energy Limited while the Toyota Land Cruiser that hit people was registered in the name of the company.

    Read more: Karsaz accident case: All you need to know

  • Natasha on Ice: What does it do to your body?

    Natasha on Ice: What does it do to your body?

    The presence of Ice was found in the urine samples of the accused woman who killed the father and daughter riding a motorcycle and injured a few others on Karsaz Road.

    ARY News has confirmed that the Ice found in her urine samples is Ice.

    How does Ice impact the body of the user?

    Ice, also known as crystal meth, is an illegal methamphetamine that stimulates the central nervous system and is primarily used as a recreational drug.

    The effect of meth is dependent on the person’s weight and health alongside the amount of the drug.

    What do people addicted to ice experience?

    • Hyperactiveness: Users feel more energised and alert, which can influence their sense of time and increase focus.
    • Euphoria and Confidence: Many users experience a sense of euphoria, increased self-esteem, and confidence. This can lead to overconfidence and risky behaviours.
    • Altered Perception: Meth can distort sensory perceptions, making colours seem more vivid and sound more intense. This might affect how the world looks and feels, potentially causing hallucinations or paranoia.
    • Intensified Emotions: Emotions can become exaggerated, leading to extreme feelings of happiness or, conversely, anxiety and agitation.
    • Impulsivity and Erratic Behavior: The drug can impair judgment, leading to impulsive and sometimes dangerous behaviour.
    • Physical Symptoms: Meth use can cause increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and other physical effects that might make the user feel unusually alert or physically stimulated.

    Read more: Karsaz accident case: All you need to know

  • What will Natasha be charged with now that an illegal substance has been found in her medical report?

    What will Natasha be charged with now that an illegal substance has been found in her medical report?

    The medical report of Natasha Danish, charged with the killing of a father-daughter duo in an accident in Karachi, has shown the presence of an illicit substance in her urine sample.

    Geo reported that the presence of a prohibited substance was found in the urine sample, however police has sealed the medical report for two to three days.

    The Current talked to lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir about the legal course of action available for the prosecution in light of the revelation. He explained that offences under the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 would be added for driving under the influence of a prohibited drug. “Another section under the Control of Narcotics Substances Act 1997 (as amended in 2022) will be added for consumption of a drug,” he added.

    However, upon being asked if the nature of the case will change now, Jibran replied, “It will still remain manslaughter due to rash and negligent driving.”

    Explaining further, he asserted that “It cannot be termed a murder because the drugs were not consumed with the intention to run over somebody.”

    Notably, Natasha is still in police custody as a local court sent her on judicial remand for 14 days.

  • Father tries to poison children, wife in Lahore

    Father tries to poison children, wife in Lahore

    The head of a household in the Shahdara Town area of Lahore fed poisonous pills to his family.

    Local police say that the suspect fed poisonous pills to seven people, including his wife and children.

    However, the family was saved by timely medical assistance, and now they are out of danger.

    A spokesperson for the City Division Police told Geo News that the police immediately shifted the entire family to the hospital.

    The man said in his statement that he tried to poison his family because of poverty. “There is not a grain of food in the house, rent has not been paid for seven months. Tired of poverty, I poisoned my wife, children and myself,” he stated.

    The current state of inflation and poverty has pushed many over the edge. Previously, a 65-year-old woman, Razia Bibi, suffering from a hernia, jumped into a drain after her family received a high electricity bill. Another man identified as Sajid, a father of three, committed suicide in Chishtian after receiving a high electricity bill.

  • 12-year-old girl raped, body found in garbage dump

    12-year-old girl raped, body found in garbage dump

    A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed before being thrown in a garbage dump in Karachi’s Saddar area on Sunday.

    Geo News cited police and hospital officials to report that on Sunday, the body of a minor girl was found stashed in a sack in the garbage dump near Lucky Star.

    The police said that the victim looked like a “destitute girl from her appearance”.

    The girl’s body was brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for medical examination, and the initial post-mortem report reveals that the girl was subjected to “sexual abuse”. At the same time, the cause of death will be ascertained after further testing.

    Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that samples had been collected from the victim’s body for DNA testing.

    The police registered a case at Saddar Police Station on the complaint of the victim’s mother.

    Dawn quoted DIG-South Syed Asad Raza as saying that eight suspects have been taken into custody for the investigation until now.

    The DIG informed Dawn that investigators managed to identify the victim, who belonged to the Hindu community and lived under the Lilly Bridge with her mother.

    He said the girl and her mother had come to Karachi from Sukkur around 20 days ago to look after an ill relative. Her mother also fell ill and went to the JPMC for treatment on Saturday night. She returned to the bridge around 2 am but could not find her daughter.

    The DIG confirmed that the victim had gone to a nearby restaurant to get free food, and it appeared that she was kidnapped from there.

    He said CCTV footage obtained from the crime scene showed that a motorcyclist threw the body. He hinted that there were indications of her being poisoned as there were no injury marks on the body.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the rape and murder of the minor Hindu girl and directed the police to take immediate action and ensure the arrest of the culprits involved.