Police nab Mufti Qavi after bail dismissal in Qandeel murder case
Mufti Abdul Qavi had left the court proceedings today before his arrest orders were issued
October 18, 2017
MULTAN: Police managed to nab Mufti Abdul Qavi from the Punjab Highway on Wednesday after his arrest orders were issued by a court hearing the Qandeel Baloch murder case.
Multan Cantt SP Dr Fahad said police, with the aid of highway authorities, nabbed Qavi while he was travelling to Jhang.
Earlier, the sessions court hearing the model and social media icon's murder case had dismissed the cleric's bail request and ordered police to arrest him for failing to cooperate with the prosecution.
Qavi appeared in the hearing conducted by Sessions Judge Chaudhry Amin and applied for bail through his lawyer, who also presented his arguments in the case.
The court then reserved the verdict in the case and after resuming the hearing, dismissed Qavi’s bail application and ordered the police to arrest him.
However, Qavi had left the court premises prior to the order.
Police conducted raids at his home and seminary to arrest him but sources said Qavi had left for Jhang where he had 'personal commitments'.
However, the police managed to arrest him after intercepting his vehicle on the highway. Talking to Geo News in the premises of the court when he arrived, Qavi said that he has nothing to do with the murder and "the judge is also aware of that". He, however, added that he will accept the court’s decision.
The court on Tuesday had adjourned the hearing to today after Qavi appeared without legal counsel and was asked to appear again on Wednesday with legal representation.
Qavi told journalists following his appearance that he appeared today, will appear tomorrow and will continue to cooperate with the police and the courts.
Earlier non-bailable arrest warrants had been issued for the cleric on request of the investigation officer who informed the court that the cleric was not cooperating with the police.
Qavi had at the time told Geo News, that he was always present in his seminary and was available for any cooperation the police wanted, adding that he had obtained interim bail and therefore could not be arrested.
Other accused in the case are Haq Nawaz and Qandeel's brother Muhammed Waseem.
Qandeel Baloch
Baloch, who shot to fame for her "bold" selfies that polarised Pakistan, was allegedly strangled in July 2016 by her brother Muhammad Waseem.
In his confession, Waseem claimed she had brought shame on the family and owned up to his crime in a press conference after his arrest.
Prior to her death, Baloch, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, spoke of worries about her safety and had appealed to the interior ministry to provide her with security.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf suspended Mufti Abdul Qavi’s membership of Ruet-i-Hilal Committee after Baloch released pictures of herself with the cleric in a hotel room weeks before her murder, wearing his hat and pouting.
She had accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
"I thought I would expose him as he is in reality," she told AFP at the time, adding: "He is a different person alone and different when he has his followers around him."
She had faced frequent abuse and death threats.
The so-called 'honour-killing' had sent shockwaves across the country and triggered an outpouring of grief on social media for Baloch.
