In a major legal development, the District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has sentenced Arbab Khalil to death for his involvement in the brutal murder of 33-year-old Faisal Ilyas, whose dismembered body was recovered from Korang Nullah in the capital’s Ghauri Town area in 2022. The sentencing marks a critical step in what has been described as one of Islamabad’s most grisly murder cases in recent memory.
Fugitive Brought Back from Dubai via Interpol
Following the meticulously planned murder on September 18, 2022, Arbab Khalil managed to flee to Dubai, evading Pakistani authorities for several months. He was eventually apprehended by Interpol and extradited to Pakistan on August 16, 2023. The Sessions Court, under Judge Jahangir Awan, delivered the capital punishment after a complete trial where guilt was established beyond reasonable doubt.
Co-Accused Sentenced; Main Accomplice Still Absconding
The court also sentenced Moazzam Akhtar and Farooq Azam—two other accused in the case—to two years of imprisonment each. However, Imran Khalil, a co-mastermind and key accomplice in the murder plot, remains a fugitive in Dubai. He has been declared a proclaimed offender, with Interpol Red Warrants issued for his arrest.
Murder Details: A Chilling Crime of Conspiracy and Cruelty
The case was followed closely due to the gruesome nature of the murder. According to Advocates Syed Tahir Abbas and Nabila Irshad, the legal representatives of the victim’s family, Faisal Ilyas was brutally murdered and dismembered, with body parts disposed of in Korang Nullah. Mobile CDR analysis and CCTV footage helped authorities trace the suspects and the vehicle used in the crime.
Advocate Nabila Irshad revealed that the accused had entered Pakistan secretly from Dubai, executed the murder, and fled the country within hours. Their calculated strategy posed challenges to law enforcement, but Islamabad Police, particularly SHO Shafqat Faiz and Investigation Officer Tariq Mehmood, managed to bring the case to its conclusion under the supervision of IG Islamabad.
Victim’s Family Calls for Further Action
Bilal Ilyas, brother of the victim, expressed both relief and concern after the verdict. While he appreciated the court and police for delivering justice, he revealed that he and his family were subjected to false cases in Rawalakot following Faisal’s murder. He urged Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to accelerate efforts to extradite Imran Khalil from Dubai and ensure all perpetrators face justice.
Arbab Khalil hails from Namnota village near Rawalakot, the same region as the slain Faisal Ilyas, which has been shaken by the violent incident and its aftermath.
