Police arrest Mufti Qavi from Punjab highway in Qandeel murder case

MULTAN: Police on Wednesday arrested Mufti Abdul Qavi from Punjab Highway after a local court issued his arrest orders for his alleged role in murder of social media icon Qandeel Baloch.

According to officials, the cleric was arrested with help of the highway authorities, while he was fleeing to Jhang city.

Earlier today, a district and sessions court here dismissed his bail plea.

Sessions Judge Chaudhry Amin was hearing Qandeel Murder case when he rejected granting bail to Qavi, a plea which was filed through his lawyer.

Previously, Qavi’s lawyer had requested for one-day time to prepare his arguments in the case on Tuesday.

Just moments after the court refused his bail request, Qavi left the courtroom while the hearing was still underway. Later, the court reserved the verdict in the case and directed the police to arrest Qavi.

At the last hearing, Mufti Qavi appeared before the court, whereas prime suspects Haq Nawaz and Muhammad Waseem were also produced before the court.

Speaking to reporters after his appearance, Mufti Qavi said he was cooperating with the investigation officer of the case. He added that he respects the court and would accept whatever its ‘ruling’ would be.

Qavi’s non-bailable warrants

It merits mentioning here that the court had issued non-bailable warrants for his arrest over his absence from the proceedings and non-cooperation with the investigation officer. Subsequently, he approached the court and secured the interim bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

The cleric had been nominated after statement of Qandeel’s father which he recorded before the police.

In his earlier written statement to police, Mufti had claimed that he first met Qandeel during a TV talk show and his last meeting was held at a hotel in Karachi on 13th of Ramazan.

Mufti Abdul Qavi was suspended as the member of Ruet-e-Hilal committee after his pictures with Baloch went viral on social media.  The video of Mufti and the model went so viral that it was also echoed in Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs meeting.

Qandeel Baloch was murdered by her brother, Waseem, in Multan on July 15th. The suspect stated he killed his sister as she “brought disgrace on the family”.