Spurned admirer 'admits killing London law graduate' in Pakistan after rejection, police claim

A spurned admirer accused of the murder of Mayra Zulfiqar has admitted to killing the London law graduate in Pakistan, police have said. 

Zahir Jadoon is said to have confessed while in police custody. He reportedly flew into a rage after Zulfiqar, 25, rejected a marriage proposal.

Zulfiqar, who was a London resident, was found dead in a pool of blood in her rented apartment in Lahore on May 3 after being shot in the neck and shoulder and strangled. 

Since the confession, please have arrested two of Zahir’s relatives and are searching for another, claiming that they conspired together carry out the crime. 

Officers have detained his brother, Tahir Jadoon, who is reported to have owned the gun used to shoot Zulfiqar, as well as and Zahir’s brother-in-law Sheryar Khan.

Police are still searching for Zahir’s cousin, Zeeshan, who is on the run and are conducting raids at various addresses in Lahore and Islamabad.

A spurned admirer accused of the murder of Mayra Zulfiqar (pictured) has admitted to killing the London law graduate in Pakistan, police said

A spurned admirer accused of the murder of Mayra Zulfiqar (pictured) has admitted to killing the London law graduate in Pakistan, police said

Zahir Jadoon (pictured with an AK47 in a Facebook photo) is said to have confessed while in police custody. He reportedly flew into a rage after Zulfiqar, 25, rejected a marriage proposal

Zahir Jadoon (pictured with an AK47 in a Facebook photo) is said to have confessed while in police custody. He reportedly flew into a rage after Zulfiqar, 25, rejected a marriage proposal 

Zahir, a 26-year-old socialite, pointed the figure at his relatives while being grilled by officers from Pakistan’s Criminal Investigation Agency, which is responsible for handling serious crimes in the country, revealing that they were with him on the night of the murder.

A police official told MailOnline: ‘Zahir has told us that other members of his family were also involved in killing Mayra and that he did not act alone.

‘Those who we have in our custody are being questioned while we are searching for another man and are confident that he will be found very soon.’

Confessions are not legally binding in Pakistan and only stand if a magistrate or member of the judiciary is present. It was not clear who was present at the time of Zahir’s reported confession.

Zahir and friend Saad Butt (pictured), 28, were named as suspects in the case

Zahir and friend Saad Butt (pictured), 28, were named as suspects in the case

Police announced Zahir’s confession on Monday night after Zulfiqar’s father issued a desperate appeal for justice to Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan.

In a confessional statement reported by Pakistan’s 24NewsHD TV, Zahir claimed that Zulfiqar had been blackmailing him. 

‘Mayra blackmailed me with video and I killed her after I fed up with the blackmailing by her,’ the statement read. 

Zahir and friend Saad Butt, 28, were named as suspects in the case. Zulfiqar reportedly became close to Zahir and was believed to have had a relationship with him.

Butt turned himself in to authorities following a nationwide manhunt and remains under investigation. 

He denies involvement in the murder, saying he was asleep at his home when Zulfiqar was killed. Zahir previously claimed he was in the capital Islamabad at the time of the murder. 

Zulfiqar went to police just days before being killed and alleged that Zahir had abducted her at gunpoint and threatened to kill her.     

Pakistan’s Samaa news outlet quoted police as saying Zulfiqar’s body was discovered by a maid working at the property and had ‘multiple torture and bullet marks.’   

Zulfiqar’s uncle named four men when reporting the crime, stating ‘They wanted to marry the victim and committed the crime when she refused,’ according to an investigative officer.

The graduate, who was pursuing a law degree, travelled to Pakistan to attend a wedding and is believed to have extended her stay there due to coronavirus travel restrictions.  

Zulfiqar, who was pursuing a law degree, travelled to Pakistan to attend a wedding and is believed to have extended her stay there due to coronavirus travel restrictions

Zulfiqar, who was pursuing a law degree, travelled to Pakistan to attend a wedding and is believed to have extended her stay there due to coronavirus travel restrictions

Zahir, a 26-year-old socialite, pointed the figure at his relatives while being grilled by officers from Pakistan's Criminal Investigation Agency, which is responsible for handling serious crimes in the country, revealing that they were with him on the night of the murder

Zahir, a 26-year-old socialite, pointed the figure at his relatives while being grilled by officers from Pakistan’s Criminal Investigation Agency, which is responsible for handling serious crimes in the country, revealing that they were with him on the night of the murder

source: dailymail.co.uk