Five-member gang arrested in Islamabad over businessman Aamir Awan’s murder

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police have arrested a gang suspected of killing businessman Aamir Awan in a high-profile case that raised serious concerns about security in the capital, officials said on Tuesday.

Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi described the investigation as a “major national-level operation,” noting the intense public scrutiny surrounding the case’s motive and execution.

Awan, owner of a Toyota dealership, was shot dead earlier this month when armed assailants stormed his farmhouse in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area.

According to Rizvi, police formed 17 investigation teams under the supervision of the operations chief. Authorities conducted geofencing at six locations, analysed 137 calls within 23 hours of the incident, and reviewed footage from around 250 CCTV cameras.

Investigators also employed artificial intelligence tools to trace the suspects. In total, 93 individuals were questioned, and 31 raids were carried out across multiple cities.

The suspects, identified as a five-member gang led by Mansoor Khan, were arrested in Charsadda following operations in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Mardan. Police said the group operated across provincial lines and was involved in robberies in Punjab and Islamabad.

Officials added that two members of the gang are Afghan nationals. The group, known as the “bulletproof gang,” reportedly carried out robberies while wearing bulletproof jackets. They were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and took one weapon from the farmhouse after the attack.

Rizvi said the case would be shared with the National Police Academy as a model investigation, adding that key breakthroughs were achieved within 24 hours.

Separately, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the killing had caused understandable concern among the business community but credited Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for improving policing through technology, including safe city cameras and digital tracking systems.

Chaudhry claimed serious crime in Islamabad had declined by 63 per cent, adding that authorities were closely monitoring major cases as part of efforts to transform the capital into a “smart city.”

Background

Aamir Awan was shot dead at his farmhouse in Islamabad’s Shehzad Town area when five armed men broke into his residence and opened fire inside his bedroom, killing him on the spot.

The killing raised serious questions about security in the capital, particularly as it occurred in a high-security zone during a period of heightened alert due to the presence of foreign dignitaries.

CCTV footage showing the attackers entering the house provided key leads. However, the brazen nature of the assault sparked widespread concern over how heavily armed suspects were able to breach security and escape.