HYDERABAD: The Mirpurkhas police have arrested the prime suspect in the suicide case of a medical student, marking a significant development in the high-profile investigation.
Officials said that in coordination with a sensitive agency, a police team conducted a timely operation and arrested Prof Abid Laghari, a lecturer at the Muhammad Medical University, who had been nominated as the prime suspect in the case.
Police said that further arrests are expected, as they are conducting raids at various locations to apprehend the other suspects who are believed to be involved in the case.
The case of 22-year-old medical student Fahmeeda Laghari had been registered against five individuals under sections 34, 509 and 316 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Following the arrest, the family of the woman and members of the civil society called off their sit-in at the Toll Plaza, which had entered its second day on Saturday, as they had been protesting against the delays in arrests.
On Friday representatives of various political and religious groups, lawyers and the civil society had held a protest to demand the immediate arrest of the prime suspect and to express solidarity with the bereaved family.
The sit-in ended on Saturday evening after the district administration assured the family that all the suspects would be arrested. The private university had earlier suspended the professor in connection with the case.
Fahmeeda, a third-year medical student and a top performer in her class, had allegedly died by suicide on Thursday night in her native village near Mirpurkhas.
Speaking to the media, her father Intizar Laghari claimed that Prof Laghari and a group of students, including Abdullah and Abdul Rehman, had been harassing and blackmailing his daughter.
The father also claimed that the prime suspect had demanded Rs40,000 and threatened to fail her in the practical exams at the Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences if she did not comply.
He also claimed that complaints had been made to college principal Zafar Hussain Tanveer and his wife, but instead of the issue being resolved, the situation worsened, ultimately pushing his daughter to take the extreme step.
Sindh Culture & Tourism Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah contacted Sindh police chief Javed Alam Odho and directed him to provide complete legal assistance to the affected family as well as ensure that a transparent investigation is conducted into the incident.
IGP Odho took notice of the incident and directed the Mirpurkhas DIG to submit a detailed report. A three-member inquiry committee was formed with Mirpurkhas SSP Syed Fida Hussain Shah as its head. The committee was tasked with submitting its report within 10 days.
The private university’s administration also constituted a separate three-member committee comprising Prof Shamsul Arifeen, Prof Maj (retd) Riaz Qadeer and Dr Hira Asif to investigate the matter.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Syed Razi Muhammad expressed sorrow over the incident, and made the assurance that a thorough investigation would be conducted, saying that anyone found responsible would be brought to justice.
He noted that although no formal written complaint had been submitted by the family, the university had still initiated an inquiry and sent the lecturer concerned on forced leave.
The third-year medical student of Muhammad Medical College, now operating as the Ibne Sina University, in Mirpurkhas had allegedly committed suicide by shooting herself with her father’s handgun, prompting the Sindh government to order a high-level inquiry into claims of harassment by a college professor.
The woman’s maternal uncle Waseem Laghari told journalists that the student had been under severe distress due to alleged harassment by a faculty member, which they believed led to the tragic incident.
The case triggered a strong response from the Sindh government, with Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar directing immediate action. Following his instructions, the Mirpurkhas DIG constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the case.
Besides Mirpurkhas SSP Syed Fida Hussain Shah, the committee comprises Headquarters SP Aftab Hussain Talpur and City SP Qurratulain.
