LAHORE:
The police have arrested the prime suspect in the gang related murder of Javed Butt, the brother-in-law of Teefi Butt.
According to officials, the shooter, identified as Azhar, is in his mid-fifties, hailing from Sant Nagar. His arrest took place in the northern areas.
Azhar, described as a seasoned shooter, had been on the run since the murder.
It was revealed that the rickshaw used in the crime had been rented from a man in Garhi Shahu. The vehicle, which had been parked at a stand in Sant Nagar, had mysteriously disappeared two days prior to the murder, complicating the investigation.
The authorities were able to trace the shooter to the northern region after following a series of leads and surveillance footage.
The investigation into the high-profile murder had hit a major obstacle as investigators discovered a series of cloned vehicle number plates complicating the search for the killers.
Butt, who was shot dead in broad daylight, is believed to be the latest victim in a decades-old gang rivalry in Lahore. The attack took place earlier this month when Butt was ambushed while driving from his home in Huma Block, Iqbal Town.
Investigators had initially narrowed down their focus to two motorcycles and a rickshaw, which were believed to be used by the attackers. However, upon further examination, police discovered at least seven motorcycles and eight rickshaws with cloned number plates, all matching those believed to have been involved in the murder.
This has hampered efforts to trace the exact vehicles used in the crime.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the shooters meticulously planned the attack. One of the attackers, an older man, was seated on the back of a motorcycle as the group followed Butt’s vehicle. When the moment came, the gunman opened fire.
The driver of the motorcycle quickly abandoned the bike and escaped in a nearby rickshaw, while the shooter took control of the motorcycle and fled the scene. Eye-witnesses confirmed that four individuals were involved in the ambush. The lead shooter was wearing a helmet, while the motorcycle driver had no headgear.
The attackers used the rickshaw to block Butt’s vehicle just before opening fire, trapping him and giving them the opportunity to carry out the assassination. The Lahore police launched an investigation, pooling resources from multiple units including the Operations, Investigations, and Organised Crime Unit (OCU).
Authorities employed geo-fencing technology, scoured hours of CCTV footage and identified more than 70 vehicles and over 2,000 phone calls made in the area at the time of the murder.
“We are making significant progress and are confident that we will apprehend the individuals responsible for this brutal murder,” a senior police official said.
The murder is being viewed as part of a long-running feud between rival gangs in Lahore, with roots tracing back nearly 30 years.
