LAHORE: A police investigation into the killing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdullah Tahir has uncovered the alleged involvement of a TikToker named Laraib, who was reportedly used to honey-trap Tahir’s driver to gather intelligence on his movements.
Laraib, a resident of Sialkot, was previously married to the alleged mastermind behind the “Shooters’ Gang,” the group accused of orchestrating Tahir’s murder. After obtaining khula from the gang leader, she remarried but later reconnected with her former husband following her separation from her second spouse.
Initially, the gang leader tasked Laraib with honey-trapping Abdullah Tahir himself. She reportedly sent her photographs to Tahir in an attempt to initiate contact, but he did not respond. Subsequently, the plan shifted, and Laraib was directed to target Tahir’s driver, Asghar.
Investigators revealed that Laraib established contact with Asghar via TikTok approximately two months before the murder, gradually building a relationship. Through this connection, she allegedly acquired detailed information about Tahir’s daily schedule, movements, and security arrangements, which aided the shooters in planning the attack.
In a significant development, police stated that Laraib was on a video call with Asghar when Tahir arrived at a clinic where the attack took place. This call is believed to have been used to confirm Tahir’s presence and the absence of security personnel.
Following this confirmation, gunmen waiting on Gurumangat Road reached the clinic and fatally shot Tahir on the spot. Investigators also noted that the assailants employed drone cameras and other technological tools to monitor Tahir and evaluate his security prior to the attack.
Police disclosed that the contract for Tahir’s assassination was finalized for a sum exceeding Rs200 million. The ongoing investigation is focusing on Laraib’s connections with the shooters and the masterminds behind the plot, while digital evidence and phone records are being thoroughly examined.
These findings expand on earlier inquiries that had already established the driver’s honey-trapping as a key element in obtaining information about Tahir’s routine. Authorities are now probing the links between the TikToker, the shooters, and those who planned and financed the murder.
