LAHORE:Five suspects involved in an attack on former model Zainab Jameel outside her saloon in Defence-B a few weeks ago have been arrested.
The main accused, Sardar Jameel, her husband, is on bail till June 30th. The couple had married in 2017. SP Cantonment Awais Shafique said they had started developing disputes because Zainab was an independent working woman. Sardar was frustrated because his wife was not financially dependent on him, the SP said.
“Whenever, they had an argument at home like any empowered woman she would advocate her stance boldly. She would also speak in favour of any victim of domestic and gender based violence. It frustrated Sardar, a Balochistan resident, who planned to murder her and instructed the shooters to shoot a bullet in her mouth,” the SP said.
“A suspect Ziaul Rehman had a financial dispute in Balochistan. He sought help from Sardar. To settle the matter, he offered the help of organising attack on Zainab. Zia arranged two shooters who came from Karachi by air. Another suspect, Adil, driver and Zainab’s employee, was involved in her reconnaissance.
He would report everything to Jameel back in Balochistan even her dressing whether modern or traditional attire. Raza the third suspect himself had been a shooter. However the shooters from Karachi did not agree to work with him. He had arranged the bike for transportation to the attack site.
Zia and other suspects were involved in provision of weapon to the suspects also. The suspected shooters after attack on the victim had left by road,” the SP said. SP Awais said they have recovered a weapon, a bike and a vehicle used in the attack. The shooters had been paid Rs300,000 for the work according to initial investigation. He said two teams were in Karachi to arrest the accused. Meanwhile, police will make efforts to get Jameel's bail cancelled and arrest him, he said.