9 persons wanted by Pakistan arrested in UAE

Among the arrested, three were wanted by Sialkot police, two by D G Khan police, and one each by Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Pakpattan and Bhakkar police

By Sher Ali Khalti

July 19, 2024

Police officers monitor the streets and receive calls from citizens at the Command and Control Center of Dubai Police in the Gulf Emirate. — AFP/File

LAHORE: In a landmark operation, nine suspects wanted for serious crimes have been arrested in the UAE with a joint strategy between Interpol Islamabad and Interpol Abu Dhabi.

The arrested individuals were wanted by the Punjab police and include Irfan Asghar, Farhan Nizakat, Samar Abbas, Najeeb Ullah and Saddam Hussain. Additionally, Muhammad Rafiq, Muhammad Saqib, Muhammad Usman and Tariq Mahmood were apprehended. These suspects faced charges of murder and attempted murder.

Tariq had been evading the police for 14 years, while a case against Rafiq was registered in 2011. Najeeb and Saddam had fled abroad after committing murders in 2014 and 2018, respectively. The remaining suspects had cases registered against them between 2020 and 2023.

Among the arrested, three were wanted by Sialkot police, two by D G Khan police, and one each by Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Pakpattan and Bhakkar police.

According to an FIA spokesperson, a team had been dispatched to transfer the suspects from the UAE to Pakistan. The nine accused arrested by Interpol have been handed over to Punjab police at the Lahore airport.