Lahore police have apprehended Asghar, the driver of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdullah Tahir, in connection with his murder. This arrest marks the fifth detention in an expanding investigation into a conspiracy allegedly involving a TikToker, facilitators, and a professional shooters’ gang.
Authorities revealed that Asghar reportedly provided details about Tahir’s movements to a TikToker named Laraib, who played a crucial role in enabling the attackers to carry out the murder plan. During interrogation, Asghar admitted to sharing information about Tahir’s schedule with Laraib. His mobile phone has been confiscated for analysis, including calls, messages, and video communications, to uncover the extent of their interaction.
Investigators believe that the information supplied by the driver was used to monitor Tahir’s whereabouts and identify moments when he was vulnerable. This development follows earlier findings about an alleged honey-trapping operation targeting Tahir and his driver, orchestrated by Laraib.
Notably, Laraib was previously married to the suspected mastermind of the shooters’ gang accused of executing the attack. After separating from him through khula, she remarried, but following the end of her second marriage, she reconnected with the gang leader. Initially, Laraib was tasked with establishing contact directly with Tahir by sharing her photographs, but after no response, the plan shifted to targeting his driver instead.
Approximately two months before the murder, Laraib reportedly connected with Asghar via TikTok and gradually built a relationship that allowed her to gather sensitive information about Tahir’s daily routine, movements, and security details.
Investigators are also scrutinizing a video call between Laraib and Asghar made around the time of the attack. The call took place after Tahir arrived at a clinic where he was later shot. It is suspected that this call was used to confirm Tahir’s presence and the absence of his security guard. Following this confirmation, gunmen waiting nearby on Gurumangat Road proceeded to the clinic and fatally shot Tahir.
Police continue to analyze phone records and digital evidence to determine whether the call was deliberately part of the assassination plan and if Asghar was complicit in its purpose. Other suspects have also been detained for conducting reconnaissance and arranging the vehicle used in the attack. Among the five individuals in custody, two women are accused of facilitating the murder.
While the detained suspects are being interrogated to clarify their roles and connections to the planners, financiers, and shooters, the principal gunman and two accomplices remain at large. Police are conducting raids and efforts to apprehend these fugitives.
Investigations suggest that the attack involved extensive surveillance of Tahir, including the use of drone cameras and other technology to track his movements and assess security. This surveillance, combined with information obtained through Asghar’s contact with Laraib, reportedly enabled the attackers to identify the optimal moment to strike.
Authorities are examining digital devices and communication records to trace the flow of information between the facilitators and the shooters. A significant revelation from the probe is that the murder contract was allegedly valued at over Rs200 million. Police are now working to uncover who commissioned and financed the killing, the financial arrangements involved, and whether payments were made directly to the shooters or via intermediaries.
With five arrests made, investigators are piecing together what appears to be a coordinated network involving reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, logistical support, and execution. The driver’s role in sharing Tahir’s movements, alongside Laraib’s communications, remains under close examination. The identities and locations of the alleged mastermind, principal shooter, and his two associates are still being pursued.
Authorities are also analyzing mobile phone data, call logs, and other digital evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the murder. The police have not yet publicly disclosed the full identities or specific roles of all five suspects as the investigation continues.
