Local police have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of Zainul Abideen, whose body was recovered from a rubbish dump in Karachi after he went missing on October 14, officials have said.
Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada said that the main suspect, Faisal, was a relative of the victim and allegedly was the mastermind behind the kidnapping and murder following a dispute involving a woman.
Pirzada said that Abideen left his home within the jurisdiction of Steel Town police station on the morning of October 14. His family later received a call demanding Rs500,000 for his release.
The SSP said that Faisal, the victim’s maternal cousin, paid the purported ransom and brought one of Abideen’s severed hands to his parents. Police took Faisal into custody after the incident, he added.
During interrogation, Faisal reportedly told investigators that the killing was not linked to a ransom dispute. According to the SSP, the two men had a dispute over a woman to whom they were both emotionally attached. Faisal allegedly confessed to killing Abideen over the matter.
Police recovered the victim’s body from a garbage dump within the jurisdiction of Bin Qasim police station after following information provided by Faisal, Pirzada said.
The second suspect, identified as Ansar, was also arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder, the SSP added.
Abideen’s father, Mohammed Khan, told the media that his son worked as a tailor in Saudi Arabia and had recently returned to Pakistan to visit his family.
Police are continuing the investigation into the case.
