SUKKUR: Khairpur police on Saturday claimed to have arrested five suspects allegedly involved in the murder of a journalist Allah Dino Shar aka A.D. Shar, who worked for an Urdu news channel.

The journalist A.D. Shar was murdered a day before in Aliabad within the jurisdiction of Thari Mirwah police station, sparking protests by his community at press clubs across Khairpur district.

A police team led by Khairpur SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro nabbed five suspects identified as Niaz Badami (main accused), Waqas Channa, Faheem Channa, Ahad Channa and Naeem Channa, and found the crime weapon, which was a sharp-edged heavy knife (chopper), a mobile phone and glasses in their possession.

Police officials claimed the suspects told police during initial investigation that Faheem Channa, in collaboration with other suspects, made the plan to murder A.D Shar and Niaz Badami supplied them with the chopper, which was used in the murder, they said.

They said that Channa told the suspects that A.D. Shar was forcing his sister to have illicit relations with him. Police had not been able to detain the woman whom the slain journalist was allegedly approaching but they had picked up her younger sister for investigation, they said.

They said that a case had been registered against the five suspects under Sections 302, 120B, 147, 148, 149, 109 at Thari Mirwah police station.

Meanwhile, Khairpur SSP removed Investigation Officer (10) Ashiq Dasti on media persons` demand as the main suspect, Niaz Badami, was also a Dasti by caste, and journalists feared he might unfairly favour him.

Khairpur Union of Journalists` president Syed Ubaid Shah Jilani praised police for the suspects` arrest and stressed that police should also take account of the fact that A.D.

Shar used to report against local drug mafia, which had threatened to kill him.