True Crime

Three British men have appeared in court accused of trafficking teenagers as a couriers for international drug rings. by Michelle Zeah WALES, CARDIFF - Levi Coomansingh, Patrick O'Driscoll and Gareth Press are charged with drug offences and illegal arrangement of travel with a view of exploitation. The men were accused of using two teenager boys age 17 as courier for drug tracking to Thailand, heard the court Magistrate Cardiff on Friday. The boys were caught and arrested in Thailand in June with 64kg(141lb) of cannabis 'concealed and carried in their suitcases while traveling back to UK. The boys remain in custody and were being supported by Foreign and Common Wealth Office. Nicholas Evans, prosecuting, said the investigation into an "organised criminal network" operating between the UK and Thailand had culminated in the arrests of the men earlier this week. Coomansingh, O'Driscoll and Press appeared in the dock together and spoke only to confirm their names, da...

On a tragic night in 2019, the family of Chaudhry Mohsin Farooq received a phone call from an unidentified person claiming, "An incident has occurred. Mohsin Farooq has been injured, and all of his friends are dead." The shocking call devastated the family. They rushed to the hospital, only to learn that Mohsin had died. Surprisingly, the same friends who had reportedly been described as dead later arrived at the hospital and claimed that Mohsin had died by suicide. However, Mohsin's uncle rejected this explanation and insisted that his nephew had been murdered. An FIR was subsequently registered against four of Mohsin's close friends. Chaudhry Mohsin Farooq, a well-known volleyball player from Kallar Syedan, died under mysterious circumstances in Bahria Town, Islamabad. He was laid to rest in his native village of Sumbal Samoot, Kallar Syedan, where thousands of mourners attended his funeral. Despite the passage of time, the circumstances surrounding his death remain...

The quiet village of Kharkai, tucked away in the lower Dir district of Kyber Pakhtunkhawa, a teen  named Karishma Bibi was executed last week.  19 years old, Karishma Bibi was youthful, full of dreams and hopes, but she had no idea that her eyes won't be open anymore to see her dreams coming true. Bibi's mother was already died when she was an infant, meanwhile her father was working in Dubai and she was under the guardianship of her paternal Uncle Zor Zamin and cousin Gul bahar.  Karishma's 'crime' was according to the local police records, was that she was standing outside of her house and was talking to a male neighbour. For this simple human interaction her male relatives opened fire, riddling her body with bullets before hastily burying her without traditional funeral prayers. They thought the mountains of lower Dir would hide their secret. They forgot that in 2026, the digital world does not allow the slaughter of women to remain a family secret. Thanks to loc...

Dateline: Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi District, Pakistan By Michelle Zeah School Teacher Injured in Alleged Acid Attack by Wife Following Domestic Dispute A private school teacher sustained injuries after an alleged acid attack in the Matua area of Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi District, in an incident that has once again raised serious concerns regarding the accessibility of corrosive substances and the continuing occurrence of acid-related violence in Pakistan. According to police reports, the victim, Kamran Tanveer, was immediately transported to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Gujar Khan, after the attack. Medical authorities confirmed that he suffered injuries from the corrosive substance but remains out of danger. Law enforcement officials registered a criminal case and arrested the woman accused of carrying out the attack. Investigators have launched a formal inquiry to determine the exact circumstances and motive behind the incident. Background of the Dispute According to the victim's st...

Dateline: Cardiff, Wales | 5 June 2026 By Michelle Zeah, United Kingdom The body of 18-year-old Saman Abbas was discovered in a farmhouse in northern Italy on 22 November 2022, more than a year after she disappeared. Her death was later confirmed to be an honour killing. Her father, Shabbar Abbas, was arrested in Pakistan and extradited to Italy to stand trial. Shabbar Abbas and his wife, Nazia Shaheen, were living in Pakistan before moving to Italy in 2016 after receiving a work opportunity through relatives. They relocated with their family, including their son and daughter, as well as other relatives. After settling in Italy, Saman gradually embraced aspects of Western culture. She stopped wearing the hijab and sought greater independence, which created tensions within her conservative family. A few years later, Saman began a relationship with a young Pakistani man named Fahad. Aware of her family's strict views, she knew they would strongly oppose the relationship. Tensions esc...

Dateline: Karachi, Pakistan | 4 June, 2026 By Michelle Zeah KARACHI: In a shocking and tragic incident that has sent waves of grief through the local community, a middle-aged man identified as Aslam, a father of four, has been accused of brutally murdering his two daughters during the night in Karachi. According to initial police reports, Aslam lived with his family in modest circumstances and was the sole breadwinner of the household. His family consisted of his wife, Bibi Jan, an adult son, a married daughter, and two younger daughters who spent much of their time under the care of their grandmother. Family members told investigators that the household began to deteriorate following the death of Aslam's wife after a prolonged illness. Relatives alleged that her death marked a turning point in his life, leaving him emotionally isolated and financially unstable. Investigators claim that Aslam subsequently developed a gambling addiction and accumulated debts reportedly exceeding...

Aurat March, an annual march to raise voices, to help silent echoes reach ears, a march that fights for women’s rights, and a march that supports victims. Held every year on 8th March, International Women’s Day, Aurat March highlights issues of discrimination and violence against women in Pakistan. One of the most famous and controversial aspects of this march is its slogans. These slogans often challenge the high-standard values set by Pakistani society for women and question the expectations placed on them to become the “ideal” domestic woman. Polygamy, in different cultures and religious interpretations, is considered a traditional practice. Polygamy is when a man has more than one wife at a time. If a woman has more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. However, in Pakistan, polygamy is legal, and it is sometimes used as a tool to suppress women. According to the law, a husband must seek permission from his first wife before marrying again, and if he does not take per...

Suppression of women in Pakistan can be done through various tactics. Some use the word “honor,” some use religion, and some use customs. Some blackmail them; if they go against the values, she would be labelled as characterless, and the term used in Pakistan is “Kari.” “Kari” is an old term used to blame women for adultery, and later such accusations can lead to punishment in the form of so-called honor killings. There is no fixed rate of “Kari” cases in Pakistan, but around 400–500 honor killings are officially reported each year. However, human rights activists estimate the real number may be closer to 1000 deaths per year because many cases are hidden or not reported. The term “Kari” and related acts are most commonly reported in the Sindh province of Pakistan, where each year a number of women are murdered on the accusation of adultery. Around 70 percent of women are victims of “Kari” every year in Sindh. Sometime in 2010, there was a landlord in Sindh, often known as “Sain” or tr...

Over the four decades, Pakistan has witnessed major moral and ethical changes regarding women’s rights. Before the late 1970s, specifically before the era of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, women had greater political influence and more fundamental rights. However, near the end of the 1970s, Pakistan entered a period of military rule that became known for Islamic conservatism. General Zia introduced legislative and social changes in Pakistan. Women were expected to cover themselves with veils, and restrictions were imposed on women working in certain sectors of government. Throughout his rule from 1977 to 1988, the number of female prisoners increased significantly, and many women were accused of adultery. These were the ideological seeds planted into the mindset of Generation X, and their influence can still be seen in Pakistani society today. In June 2002, Mukhtar Mai from Muzaffargarh, Punjab, Pakistan, was gang raped as a punishment imposed by an unofficial tribal tribunal known as a ...

By Mishal Zia | 09 May, 2026 | United Kingdom, Wales, as a crime reporter, journalist, and human rights activist, I have come across many heartbreaking cases in which serious crimes continue to repeat themselves despite devastating consequences. Among the most ignored and underreported crimes is child marriage, a practice that destroys childhoods, damages mental and physical health, and often traps young girls in cycles of abuse and fear for the rest of their lives. In many societies, child marriage is still defended as a “tradition” or “family matter” rather than recognised for what it truly is: a violation of human rights. Across different regions of the world, thousands of girls are forced into marriages before they are emotionally, physically, or mentally prepared for adulthood. Many lose access to education, independence, healthcare, and the right to choose their own future. According to UNICEF⁠, millions of girls worldwide are married before the age of 18 every year. In some coun...

By Mishal Zia March 7th, 2026 In many parts of Pakistan, a troubling pattern persists. Whenever the Taliban are criticized, a segment of the public quickly rises to defend them. The reasoning is often strikingly simple: the Taliban claim to follow Islam; therefore, they must be righteous. But this raises an uncomfortable question. Can violence, repression and fear truly represent a religion that speaks of justice, mercy and compassion? In deeply religious societies, faith is closely intertwined with identity. In Pakistan, where religion shapes both personal and political narratives, groups that frame themselves as defenders of Islam often receive instinctive sympathy. For some, the Taliban are not merely a political or militant force; they are seen as religious reformers attempting to establish what supporters perceive as an “Islamic system”. This perception persists despite decades of documented brutality. The Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan has been associated with severe restrictions...

By Mishal Zia  January 15, 2026 In the early hours of 12 February 2024, Chaudhary Muhammad Adnan, a seasoned politician and former member of the Punjab Assembly, was fatally shot in broad daylight in Rawalpindi’s Civil Lines neighbourhood. The assassination of the 47‑year‑old, who had served as parliamentary secretary for social welfare and later revenue, sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s political establishment and underscored the fragile security climate for elected figures. Adnan’s death was more than a tragic killing; it was a moment that exposed deep rifts between political rivalries, allegations of vendetta and accusations that quickly enveloped the subsequent investigation. At a traffic signal near the city’s police lines, unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire, killing Adnan and leaving questions about motive and culpability lingering ever since.  Within days of the murder, Rawalpindi police registered a case of premeditated murder at the Civil Lines ...

By Mishal Zia | December 30, 2025 | Kabul, Afghanistan When the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women across the country lost not only their freedoms but also their safety. Resistance came at an unbearable cost for many, as the story of sisters Tamana Piryani and Zarmina Piryani illustrates both the courage of Afghan women and the brutality of the regime that now governs them. Born and raised in Afghanistan, the sisters became involved in peaceful protests against Taliban rule. Their resistance was symbolic and non-violent: they spoke out online, shared messages on social media, and burned a burqa to protest the severe restrictions imposed on women's lives. The act was meant to highlight how women were being erased from public spaces under the Taliban's interpretation of religion. A video of the protest spread rapidly on social media. Soon after, Taliban supporters and armed militants publicly declared that the sisters should be beheaded. According to Z...

By Mishal Zia | June 8, 2025 | Islamabad, Pakistan There is an old saying that if a lion pretends to be a rabbit, that does not mean he will not kill. This seems particularly true in the story of Lal Masjid in 2007, when then-President Pervez Musharraf ordered a military operation to demolish the mosque. The official explanation claimed that the mosque was harboring terrorist groups linked to Afghanistan. Yet, the operation left scores of adults and children dead, and the true story behind this ruthless act remains far different from what was publicly presented. Years of research and firsthand accounts reveal a dark, hidden narrative. According to a senior colleague who witnessed the events, a minor girl from FATA, returning to her school dorm, found the dorm closed and had nowhere to stay. She called a trusted contact, Aunty Shamin, who allowed her in. What followed is chilling: the girl was later trafficked to a politician in Pakistan. When the school and the girl’s parents tried to ...

By Mishal Zia | April 15, 2024 | Islamabad, Pakistan According to the BBC, Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media representatives. Journalists who investigate corruption, expose abuse, or report on sensitive issues face constant threats, harassment, and even physical harm. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan’s military, has been accused of monitoring journalists and using gathered information to justify arrests. This surveillance contributes to a climate of fear, making it difficult for reporters to carry out their work freely and safely. In 2023, Pakistan was ranked eleventh on the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) Global Impunity Index, which measures how frequently journalists are killed without those responsible facing justice. While some provinces have laws protecting media personnel, these measures remain insufficient. At the federal level, a law was passed in 2021 to provide some safeguards, but ...

By Mishal Zia | September 18, 2024 | Shahdra, Pakistan A shocking act of violence has once again exposed the deep-rooted dangers women face in Pakistan simply for exercising their rights. On September, 2024, Constable Soman, a lady police officer stationed in Shahdra, was brutally shot in the head three times by a fellow officer, Muhammad Farooq, after she refused his marriage proposal. The attacker fled the scene immediately, leaving the victim lifeless. Police later arrived, recovered her body, and transferred it to the hospital for autopsy. The accused has now been arrested. This tragic case is not isolated. It echoes a horrifying incident in 2016 when 19-year-old Maria Sadqat was burned alive in her own home after rejecting a marriage proposal. Maria, who was teaching at a local school, had refused to marry the son of the school owner, citing that he was already married and twice her age. The assailants beat her, doused her with petrol, and set her on fire, ultimately causing her d...

By Mishal Zia | January 20, 2024 | Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Twenty-one-year-old Abid Khan was shot dead on his wedding day in Peshawar, turning what should have been a celebration of love into a scene of tragedy. Abid was about to marry the love of his life when the unthinkable happened. His father, Riaz Khan, recounted the horror: "They killed Abid on the spot. He was my only son, the only breadwinner for our family. I am too old to work now." Family members have been waiting for justice ever since. "They killed Abid in January this year. We are still waiting for justice," said one relative. The incident also highlights cultural customs in Peshawar. During the wedding, the family barred the use of cameras and restricted photographing women, following local traditions in which women do not show their faces to anyone outside the family. The accused, Shahzad, Shabbir, and Shah Fahad, reportedly fled when the police raided their homes. The case brings att...

By Mishal Zia | August 12, 2024 | Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan On July , 2024, in Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan, Sobia Batool, 22, was brutally attacked by male members of her own family for seeking a divorce. In a horrifying act of violence, six men broke into her home while she was sleeping. One of them attacked her with a hatchet, deliberately attempting to sever her legs. Sobia recalls, "I screamed in pain and pleaded with him to stop, but he was like a man possessed. I even told him I will not seek divorce." Among the attackers were her father, Syed Mustafa Shah, her brothers, cousins, and uncles. This attack was a chilling example of punishment inflicted on women in rural and conservative regions of Pakistan for exercising their basic right to end a marriage. Sobia was immediately hospitalized in Nawabshah at the Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, where she underwent major reconstructive surgery. She remains in critical condition, both...

By Mishal Zia | February 15, 2024 Three days ago, the assassination of Chaudhry Muhammad Adnan on February 12, 2024, in Rawalpindi has sent shockwaves through the nation. This was not a random act of violence. It was a brazen, calculated attack carried out in broad daylight near the Police Lines, a place supposedly secure and heavily monitored. The fact that gunmen could ride up on motorbikes and execute a former Member of the Punjab Assembly in front of dozens of witnesses exposes a terrifying truth about Pakistan: the powerful can act with impunity, and the state is either unable or unwilling to stop them. Chaudhry Adnan was a respected political figure who had served his community and contested elections with integrity. Yet his prominence did not shield him from death. The attack raises serious questions about the government’s ability to protect its citizens. Security protocols, if they existed, failed spectacularly, leaving one of the country’s elected leaders vulnerable in a city ...

By Mishal Zia  Dateline: 28th October, 2023  For decades, the Pakistan Army has operated as a state within a state, wielding unchecked power that undermines democracy and accountability. While it publicly claims to safeguard national security, in reality the army has prioritized its own influence over the welfare of the people, shaping politics, policy, and governance to serve its institutional interests rather than the nation. The army’s political interference has consistently destabilized civilian governments. Elected leaders are often forced to compromise or resign under pressure, while decisions critical to the country’s future are dictated by military priorities. This domination has stifled democratic processes, leaving citizens voiceless in matters that directly affect their lives. Pakistan’s democracy has repeatedly been reduced to a façade, with true power concentrated in the hands of an unelected and unaccountable institution. Economically, the army’s control over key...