Karachi police say the main suspect in the Steel Town murder of young tailor Zainul Abideen has confessed that he killed him because the victim had an inappropriate video of a girl on his mobile phone. The suspect, the victim's cousin Faisal, told interrogators that a dispute over that video led him and a friend to plan the killing in revenge.
Both men have been arrested. Police said they recovered Zainul Abideen's body from Steel Town after the suspects identified where it had been left.
How police say the killing unfolded
According to police, Faisal had already admitted the murder during questioning. He and his friend allegedly put the body in a sack, tied a piece of yellow cloth around it, and dumped it at a deserted spot.
Officers said the body was found on the suspects' pointing out. The investigation is still under way.
Abduction, ransom demand, and the family's account
Zainul Abideen had come back from Saudi Arabia, where he worked as a tailor, to see his parents. His father said the young man left home on a motorcycle on October 14 and never returned. After searching without success, the father registered a kidnapping case at Steel Town police station.
The father said the family then received a call from people claiming to hold his son, demanding Rs700,000. Relatives took the money to the place named by the callers, but no one was there. He also said the suspects left his son's slippers and mobile phone outside the house and threatened to kill him.
Police said that in the early stage of the inquiry they went to a location identified by the kidnappers and recovered a severed hand, which was sent for DNA testing. Investigators also examined the case on technical grounds. The body was recovered later once the two suspects were in custody.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- October 14: Zainul Abideen leaves home on a motorcycle and does not return; his father later registers a kidnapping case at Steel Town police station.
- After the disappearance: Callers demand Rs700,000; the family takes the money to the specified place but finds no one. Slippers and a mobile phone are left outside the house with a threat to kill the victim.
- Early investigation: Police visit a location linked to the kidnappers, recover a severed hand, and send it for DNA testing.
- Friday (police statement): Police say the body has been recovered in Steel Town after Faisal and his friend were arrested and identified the dump site; Faisal confesses during interrogation.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Steel Town mein Zainul Abideen ka qatl hua. Police ke mutabiq uske cousin Faisal ne qabool kiya ke phone par ek video ki wajah se usne aur uske dost ne yeh qatl kiya. Pehle ransom manga gaya, phir laash bari hui. Case ki investigation abhi jari hai.
