KARACHI: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested 11 activists of the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) nominated in a case pertaining to the murder of an Ahmadi man during an attack on a place of worship of the Ahmadiyya community.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that an FIR was lodged on the complaint of victim Laeeq Ahmed’s cousin at the Preedy police station under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act against 15 TLP activists.

On Friday, a mob had beaten to death Laeeq Ahmed Cheema at Hashu Centre in Saddar following an attack on Ahmadiyya Hall.

His cousin Abdul Naeem stated in the FIR that after getting some information and through social media, he came to know that 15 men —Abdul Qadir, Mohammad Saleem, Mohammad Noman, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Shahid, Ghulam Akbar, Mohammad Shahbaz, Mohammad Mobin, Inayat Rehman, Riaz Raza, Yasir Akhtiari, Ilyas alias Pardesi, Riaz Ahmed, Inayat and Hamza Ashrafi — had brutally murdered Cheema.

He told the police that his cousin was a witness in a case against some of the nominated suspects. He said he had appeared in court on Friday morning, where the named individuals threatened him of dire consequences.

While the FIR did not mention political affiliation of the suspects, the DIG told Dawn six of the named suspects belonged to the TLP. He said that the deceased was the sole witness in a 2023 vandalism case against the same set of suspects.

On Saturday, the police carried out several raids and arrested 11 suspects, said to be members of the TLP.

The DIG said that the prime suspect in the case was identified as Inayatur Rehman and efforts were underway to arrest him.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2025