QUETTA: Police said on Wednesday they have detained five individuals suspected in the killing of a local entrepreneur.
At a press briefing, Quetta Deputy Inspector General Imran Shoukat stated that Mohammad Hashim Noorzai, proprietor of a restaurant, was shot dead on June 27 while traveling home on the Quetta‑Chaman Highway near Baleli by unknown assailants.
The DIG added that the main suspect, Hikmatullah Noorzai, confessed to orchestrating the murder together with his brother Saadullah Noorzai, citing a business disagreement worth roughly Rs160 million. He noted that Saadullah remains at large and that police are carrying out raids to apprehend him.
Investigators said Hikmatullah, along with alleged accomplices Jan Muhammad Noorzai and Amanullah Noorzai, followed the victim in a black Toyota Revo registered under his brother’s name. They intercepted his car at a suitable moment and opened fire.
Quetta DIG claims ‘dispute involving Rs160m’ behind the killing
Shoukat explained that the case was transferred to the Serious Crime Investigation Wing (SCIW) due to its sensitive nature.
The SCIW assembled three specialist teams drawn from the Homicide Unit and the Analysis Wing, utilizing contemporary forensic and technical approaches.
CCTV recordings, digital forensics and other technical evidence enabled investigators to map the suspects’ movements.
Two individuals, Mir Khan and Dilawar Khan, were arrested for allegedly scouting the victim’s residence and tracking his daily routine; their tips led to Hikmatullah’s capture, whom the DIG said admitted to the offence.
‘Murder weapon recovered’
Among those detained are two men accused of surveilling the victim. Authorities also recovered the alleged murder weapon during the investigation.
Jan Muhammad and Amanullah were apprehended while allegedly trying to escape in a white Toyota Alto.
Police additionally seized a stockpile of arms, including a Kalashnikov, a light machine gun with ammunition and four rifles, which the suspects were purportedly attempting to smuggle out of the city.
Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2026
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