Two suspects in Misl Khan murder killed in Mianwali police encounter

Islamabad: Two men identified by police as the main suspects in the killing of alleged police informer Misl Khan were killed in a police encounter, according to officials, in a case that had drawn wide public attention in Mianwali.

The deceased were identified as Kifayatullah, also known as Murgha, and Zahid Groon. Police described both men as key accused in the murder of Misl Khan, a case that had triggered debate in the district and prompted concern over the safety of people assisting law enforcement.

According to police, the case began in August 2025 when Makrwal police carried out a raid and arrested Nasrullah, also known as Khana Murgha, after injuring him during the operation. Police said he was taken into custody along with an accomplice, Jamshed. Officials said Nasrullah was a proclaimed offender wanted in several serious cases.

Police said Nasrullah believed Misl Khan had tipped off authorities about his location. Misl Khan was described by police as a labourer employed in coal mines in the mountainous area. Officials alleged that Nasrullah then assigned his brother Kifayatullah and Jamshed’s brother Zahid Groon to kill him.

In January 2026, the suspects allegedly fired indiscriminately at Misl Khan while he was working in the hills, police said. He was critically wounded in the attack and later died in hospital.

The killing led to strong reaction on social media, where calls for justice gained traction under slogans demanding protection for police informers. The victim’s widow and his seven children also sought justice during a khuli kachehri held by Regional Police Officer Dr Muhammad Shahzad Asif Khan.

At that open court, Dr Muhammad Shahzad Asif Khan assured the family that all available resources would be used to bring those responsible to justice, according to police.

Police said efforts to trace the suspects were complicated by the difficult terrain of the Makrwal-Chhapri-Isa Khel region and its closeness to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, which they said often helps fugitives avoid arrest.

Officials said the breakthrough came after a tip-off. Police teams led by SHO Makrwal Malik Fayyaz and SHO Chhapri Shafqatullah Khan then carried out a joint operation in the Chhapri hills, where the suspects were reportedly hiding along with several accomplices.

Police said the encounter resulted in the deaths of Kifayatullah and Zahid Groon, bringing the high-profile case to a close.