ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad has handed down the death penalty to Arbab Khalil, a key accused in the brutal murder of 33-year-old Faisal Ilyas, a resident of Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir. The judgment marks a major development in a case that had shaken both Islamabad and Rawalakot due to the heinous nature of the crime and the fact that both the victim and accused belonged to the same town.
The incident occurred on September 18, 2022, in the Ghauri Town area of Islamabad, where Faisal Ilyas was mercilessly killed, his body dismembered, and the remains dumped in the Korang Nullah. After the crime, both principal suspects Arbab Khalil and Imran Khalil fled to Dubai using covert means.
Through the determined legal efforts of Advocate Nabeela Irshad, who represented the complainant, the case was pursued to its logical conclusion. With the help of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interpol was engaged, resulting in the arrest and extradition of Arbab Khalil. He was brought back to Pakistan on August 16, 2023, and put on trial.
Following a full trial in the District and Sessions Court, the court found Arbab Khalil guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced him to death. Two co-accused Moazzam Akhtar and Farooq Azam were each sentenced to two years in prison. Meanwhile, the other main suspect, Imran Khalil, remains a fugitive in Dubai and is currently the subject of Interpol red warrants.
Speaking to the media, Advocate Nabeela Irshad described the murder as “a carefully pre-planned execution, not an act of sudden provocation.” She added that the suspects traveled from Dubai to Islamabad to carry out the murder and immediately fled back. She praised the court’s decision as “a victory for justice” and urged the government to ensure that Imran Khalil is brought back to face trial.
The investigation, led by Investigating Officer Tariq Mehmood and SHO Shafqat Faiz, under the directives of the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, was aided by digital forensics. Key evidence such as Call Detail Records (CDRs) of the victim’s mobile phone, CCTV footage, and vehicle tracking were instrumental in tracing the culprits and piecing together the timeline of events.
Bilal Ilyas, the victim’s brother, expressed gratitude to the court and Islamabad Police for delivering justice despite what he described as “efforts to obstruct justice” through false cases filed against their family in Rawalakot. He appealed to the Ministry of Interior to expedite efforts for the arrest and extradition of fugitive Imran Khalil.
The First Information Report (FIR) in the case had been registered at Koral Police Station, and while the case was initially categorized as a blind murder, police efforts and modern investigative techniques eventually led to the arrest of the perpetrators. The court, in its ruling, noted that awarding the death sentence to Arbab Khalil was fully justified and in accordance with the law, given the gravity of the crime and the compelling evidence presented.
