Timergara  –  Police in Lower Dir have claimed to have arrested a key suspect in the alleged honour killing of 19-year-old orphan Karishma, whose brutal murder sparked widespread outrage and protests across the district.

According to police, the arrested suspect, identified as Gul Bahar, had been absconding since the incident. Acting on the directives of District Police Officer (DPO) Furqan Bilal, a special police team led by SP Investigation Rashid Ahmad, along with DSP Amjad Khan, SHO Khal, and other police officials, conducted a successful raid and arrested the suspect from the Nawagai area of Rabat on Monday.

Police said the accused is being interrogated, while raids and search operations are continuing to arrest the remaining nominated suspects, including Zorzamin. Officials said Lower Dir Police have remained actively engaged in investigating the sensitive case since the first day and are utilizing all available resources to ensure the arrest of all accused and bring the case to its logical conclusion.

Karishma, a resident of Kharkai village in Union Council Rabat, was allegedly murdered by her relatives on June 27 in the name of so-called honour. The incident initially received little attention, but after details of the case circulated on social media, public outrage mounted, prompting swift police action.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers in absentia for the teenage victim were offered at the Rabat Higher Secondary School Ground in a sombre atmosphere. Hundreds of local residents attended the gathering, prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased, expressed solidarity with her family, and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

The killing triggered protests in Rabat, where political and civil society leaders condemned the incident and demanded justice. Addressing demonstrators during the protest and the funeral prayers in absentia, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Alam Zeb Advocate, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shad Nawaz Khan, and Awami National Party leader Malik Muhammad Zeb urged the authorities to ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators in accordance with the law.  They also called for stronger measures to protect women and children from violence and so-called honour crimes.

Residents and human rights advocates in Lower Dir have urged the government to enforce the law without discrimination and take effective measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.