Quetta Police arrest five suspects in Hashim Noorzai murder case

QUETTA, Jul 8 (APP): Deputy Inspector General of Police Quetta Imran Shaukat announced on Wednesday that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of a local restaurant’s owner, Muhammad Hashim Noorzai.

Imran Shaukat revealed that the prime suspect, Hikmatullah Noorzai, confessed to planning the killing with his brother, Saadullah Noorzai, over a business dispute worth approximately Rs. 160 million. Saadullah remains at large, with police teams conducting raids to secure his arrest.

According to investigators, Hikmatullah, accompanied by his gunmen Jan Muhammad Noorzai and Amanullah Noorzai, pursued the victim in a black Toyota Revo registered under his brother’s name. At an opportune moment, they intercepted Hashim Noorzai’s vehicle and opened fire. Hikmatullah first shot from inside the car, then stepped out to fire again, killing the victim on the spot.

DIG Imran Shaukat explained that the case, which occurred on June 27, 2026, was handed over to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing (SCIW) due to its sensitivity. SCIW formed three specialized teams from the Homicide Unit and Analysis Wing, employing modern forensic and technical methods. CCTV footage, digital forensics, and technical evidence helped trace the suspects’ movements.

Two motorcyclists, Mir Khan and Dilawar Khan, were arrested for conducting reconnaissance of the victim’s home and daily routine. Their information led to the capture of Hikmatullah, who confessed to the crime.

Among those detained are two men accused of conducting surveillance of the victim. Police also recovered the murder weapon during the investigation.

Jan Muhammad and Amanullah were arrested while attempting to flee in a white Toyota Altis. Police recovered a cache of weapons, including a Kalashnikov, an LMG with ammunition, and four rifles, which the suspects were trying to smuggle out of the city.

Imran Shaukat noted that Saadullah Noorzai, the fugitive brother, even attended the victim’s funeral and protest sit-in to deflect suspicion. He emphasized that Quetta Police had solved the case in record time, underscoring their commitment to protecting lives and property.

Highlighting SCIW’s recent successes, Imran Shaukat said the wing had traced five blind murder cases in the past two months using advanced technology. These included the May 9 killing of a youth named Waleed in Gawalmandi, solved through CCTV and tenancy records, and the April 30 discovery of Javed Sheikh’s body in Zarghoonabad, where Shah Muhammad was arrested with the murder weapon. In another case, SCIW identified the prime suspect in the May 24 murder of Mehmood Khan in Shalkot through CCTV and call data records.

The DIG urged citizens to register tenancy forms with local police stations to aid in identifying criminal elements. He reaffirmed that SCIW remains committed to bringing perpetrators of serious crimes to justice through scientific investigation and professional inquiry.