Funeral prayers were held in Barcelona for Muhammad Nauman Qaiser, a well-known businessman and social figure, who was reportedly killed in a police encounter in Punjab. Hundreds of Pakistanis from across Spain assembled at a local mosque to pay their respects to Qaiser, who died on February 11, 2026, in what his family described as a staged police operation.
Qaiser was a prominent figure in the local business community, with his brothers Imran Muhammad Fardous and Furqan Muhammad Fardous also recognized as influential businessmen and community leaders in Spain. Among the attendees was Moonis Elahi, a former federal minister and exiled PTI leader.
his family, Qaiser had been entangled in numerous cases in Pakistan, which they claimed were politically motivated and baseless. Despite these allegations, the courts in Spain had acquitted him honorably. The family noted that a case under Section 109 was registered against him in Pakistan even after Spanish courts cleared him, following Pakistani authorities’ approach to the Spanish government.
Qaiser traveled to Pakistan on protective bail to prove his innocence in the murder case of his former brother-in-law, who was killed in Lahore. Despite the bail, he was arrested upon arrival. After eight months, he secured bail but was immediately re-arrested on allegedly fabricated charges under Article 440. Although later acquitted, he faced another case under Section 506.
The Lahore High Court intervened, instructing police not to file false cases or arrest him unjustly. The court demanded a record of all cases in which the Crime Control Department (CCD) Punjab claimed Qaiser was wanted. Authorities confirmed that he was neither wanted nor involved in any criminal activity, leading to his release with assurances that he would not be further implicated.
However, on February 1, 2026, Qaiser was again taken into custody after returning from court. A subsequent petition led the high court to express strong disapproval and issue notices to police officials. It later emerged that Qaiser was implicated in multiple new cases, including two murder charges under Section 302. Notably, in one murder case, the FIR was registered while he was in Spain, and in the other, he was already in jail. He was also charged in a theft case under Section 395, registered on January 16.
The court observed that no cases existed against Qaiser before February 20, raising serious concerns about the sudden surge in allegations. His lawyer repeatedly warned the court about the risk of extrajudicial killing. The court responded by ordering all authorities to refrain from unlawful actions against him and to ensure his safety.
Despite these orders, Qaiser was killed in what his family described as a staged police encounter, allegedly conducted by the CCD. The CCD Punjab denied any involvement, stating it had not carried out any operation related to his death and had no connection to the incident. The department acknowledged investigating Qaiser in connection with his brother-in-law’s murder, which was reportedly planned from Dubai, but confirmed he had obtained bail and was no longer wanted.
Imran Muhammad Fardous condemned the killing, calling it an assassination carried out in broad daylight with blatant disregard for the law. He stated that after failing to obtain justice in Pakistan, they brought Qaiser’s body to Spain for burial. He accused Punjab authorities of lying about the circumstances of his brother’s death, asserting they have evidence that Qaiser was killed locally and was not fleeing or firing on police as claimed. Imran vowed to continue the fight for justice internationally for his brother’s martyrdom.
