Lower Dir police have arrested three suspects in connection with the attack on Pakistani cricketer Naseem Shah’s residence in Mayar area earlier this month, officials said on Saturday.
The attack occurred in the early hours of November 10, when unidentified gunmen opened fire on the front door of the cricketer’s house around 1:45 am, leaving bullet marks on doors, walls and windows. The attackers fled immediately, leaving the family shaken but unharmed.
A special police team, led by Superintendent of Police Investigations (SP) Rashid Ahmed Khan and comprising Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Jandol Circle Alim Khan, Station House Officer (SHO) of Mayar Police Station Idrees Khan and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Hayat Muhammad Khan, investigated the case.
Reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence from the surrounding area, police said they identified and arrested the three suspects after Naseem’s father Zafar Shah nominated them in the case.
During interrogation, the three confessed to their involvement in the attack, police said, adding that the motive for the attack appeared to be related to a recent land dispute between two local families.
“A few days before the incident, a disagreement over land had escalated. On the day of the attack, one of the parties was cultivating wheat on the disputed land when the other party allegedly opened fire. As relatives of Naseem’s mother were connected to one of the rival families, the cricketer’s house was attacked,” an official said.
He added that further investigations are being carried out into the case, while authorities have beefed up security around the cricketer’s residence to prevent further incidents.
Residents described Naseem Shah’s family as respected and law-abiding, and expressed relief at the quick police action. “The arrests have brought some peace to our community,” said a family member.
