Police arrest Tiktoker allegedly involved in PTI leader's murder

LAHORE: A tiktoker who hone-trapped the driver of PTI’s murdered leader Abdullah Tahir, has been apprehended, police sources informed on Saturday.

Aptly accused tiktoker, Maria, has been picked up from Sialkot, officials said. “She is resident of Faisalabad and was a fugitive after the murder,” police sources said.

“She was traced down via her mobile number and arrested,” officials said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader from Okara, Chaudhry Abdullah Tahir was murdered in a gun attack on his visit to a clinic for routine check up on July 29.

Investigating authorities had earlier revealed that the driver of Abdullah Tahir was hone-trapped by a tiktoker. “A woman partner of the accused established contact with the driver of the PTI’s leader. The woman made her first contact with the driver about two months before the murder,” investigative sources said.

“She hone-trapped the driver to gather information from him,” sources said.

“A video call made between the driver and woman on the day of the crime when Abdullah Tahir arrived at the clinic,” officials said. “The accused confirmed presence of their victim at the clinic via the video call.”

“After confirming Abdullah Tahir’s presence, the shooters reached at Guru Mangat Road,” according to investigation sources.

Authorities investigating the murder indicated that the murder was carefully planned.

Sources said the apprehended suspects informed the investigating authority that the murder was carried out after careful planning. The suspects further disclosed that drones were employed to keep track of the movements and spot Abdullah Tahir’s location before the murder.

Investigation sources further disclosed that a huge sum of money was spent to arrange the drone surveillance. Reportedly, authorities are investigating reports regarding drones activity in the proximity of the victim’s house prior to the murder.

According to police, two gunmen riding on motorcycles opened indiscriminate firing on Abdullah Tahir in Lahore’s Gulberg area. He received multiple gunshot wounds and finally died due to his injuries.

He was a notable political figure from Okara and had participated in the 2018 Punjab Assembly elections contesting on a PTI ticket.