Police have arrested Tawakal Hussain, the former second husband of Tahira Nosheen, a journalist whose mutilated body was discovered on March 11 in the hilly terrain of Tarraki, near Gujar Khan. Nosheen, a journalist with a local Urdu newspaper, had been brutally stabbed, shot, and disfigured with acid in a shocking act of violence.

The breakthrough came when her fingerprints, analyzed on April 17, confirmed her identity, which had been obscured by the severe mutilation of her body. Regional Police Officer of Rawalpindi, Babar Sarfraz Alpa, emphasized the urgency of the case, marking it as a priority for Punjab police.

Nosheen’s former husband, Hussain, initially summoned for questioning, evaded authorities and was later declared a proclaimed offender. His capture occurred while he was traveling near the Tarraki area from Lahore. During interrogation, Hussain confessed to the heinous act, claiming he killed Nosheen while driving her from Rawalpindi to Lahore. He allegedly executed the murder by turning off their mobile phones, driving along the GT Road, and carrying out the attack in a secluded hilly area.

The police revealed that Nosheen had filed for divorce in family court, seeking separation due to disputes over her inherited property and accusations against Hussain of blackmail and physical abuse. Furthermore, Nosheen had lodged a complaint against Hussain with the FIA’s cybercrime wing for distributing objectionable photos of her to her contacts, a manipulation Hussain admitted to using in an attempt to coerce her into traveling with him to Lahore.

Station House Officer Mohammad Imran of Sohawa detailed the investigation’s findings, highlighting the severe relational and financial disputes between Nosheen and Hussain, which included his attempts to coerce her into selling her inherited property. Imran also confirmed the recovery of the weapon used in Nosheen’s murder, and Hussain has since been sent on judicial remand by a court.