Pakistani medical student 'names her murderer' on video shortly before death
Asma Rani allegedly killed after turning down marriage proposal
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Your support makes all the difference.A man has been arrested after the murder of a student in Pakistan who was reportedly killed after turning down a marriage proposal.
Asma Rani, a third-year medical student, was shot on Saturday afternoon in Kohat, 120 miles west of the capital Islamabad, and died in hospital on Sunday.
Footage has emerged allegedly showing Ms Rani in hospital shortly before her death, naming Mujahid Afridi as her killer.
Her family alleges that Mr Afridi killed Ms Rani after she refused to marry him, having also made previous threats against her.
When first reporting the attack, Ms Rani’s brother Muhammad Irfan named two brothers – Mr Afridi and Sadiq Ullah – as the attackers.
Police later confirmed that a search was underway for the two men.
Mr Ullah was arrested in Kohat on Tuesday but his brother has not yet been found. Mr Afridi is believed to have travelled straight to Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad after committing the crime, boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia that evening.
A red notice has been issued by Interpol for his arrest.
Posting the video of his cousin seeming to name Mr Afridi as her killer, Zaheer Khan Burki wrote on Facebook: “We demand the quick capture of mujahid afridi and want justice for asma bibi.”
Ms Rani’s family have raised concerns on social media that Aftab Alam, Mr Afridi’s uncle and president of the Kohat district branch of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party, could use his influence to protect his nephew.
However, Mr Alam told Pakistan Today that the perpetrator would be brought to justice.
“This girl Asma is like my own daughter,” he said. “Rest assured no special favours will be made and the villains behind this will be apprehended soon enough.”
Kohat’s District Police Officer Abbas Majeed Khan Marwat, who is leading a Special Investigation Team, also sought to reassure the family.
“Police will ensure arrest of both the accused at any cost,” he wrote on Twitter. “InshaAllah Justice will be ensured.”
Protesters gathered in several locations across Pakistan on Tuesday to demand urgent action to locate and arrest Mr Afridi.
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