Suspect in prominent social activist’s murder arrested in Karachi

Karachi : The Karachi Police has arrested a suspect allegedly involved in the murder of prominent social activist Perween Rahman, who headed an institution involved in regularisation of slum areas and provision of drinking water and other welfare activities.

Rahman, the director of the Orangi Pilot Project Research and Training Institute, was gunned down by armed pillion riders in an attack on her car in Orangi Town in March 2013, reports Dawn.

The suspect Raheem Swati was apprehended in Sultanabad area of Manghopir after hectic efforts, which lasted three years and with the help of technology, said Karachi-West SSP Azfar Mahesar.

The senior officer said Swati was the prime suspect in the case and termed the arrest a ‘breakthrough’ that would unearth the motive behind the killing.

Accompanied by SSP Investigations (West Zone) Akhtar Farooq, the Karachi-West SSP, said the held suspect was an ‘active worker’ of a political party who was allegedly involved in several targeted attacks on ethnic and sectarian grounds.

Besides, the hit-man also had ‘links’ with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the officer added.

Two other suspects namely Ahmed Ali alias Papu and Imran Swati had earlier been arrested and sent to prison. (ANI)