West Midlands Police have confirmed that Tahir Zarif, who is suspected of shooting dead a businessman in Birmingham in 2016, has been arrested in Pakistan.
The murder of Akhtar Javeed (pictured) occurred during a botched robbery in February 2016 at his Direct Source 3 firm in Rea Street, Digbeth.
CAUGHT: A murder suspect on the run for two years following the fatal shooting of a #Birmingham businessman has been detained in Pakistan. Tahir Zarif is suspected of murdering Akhtar Javeed (pic) in Digbeth. Full story: https://t.co/RQ1HJbslmP pic.twitter.com/O7y1XzUebc
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) January 18, 2018
Tahir Zarif left the country a few days after the killing occurred. West Midlands Police suspected him to be hiding in Pakistan, where he is currently detained, detectives confirmed.
“We have been in regular contact with the Pakistani authorities and will continue to liaise with them over the deportation process,” said Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield.
In September 2016, three men involved in the robbery that led to the murder of Javeed were arrested. Hearings at the Birmingham Crown Court informed that the victim was “tied up and shot in the leg as a violent warning to open up the company’s safe.” He died at the scene after attempting to escape.
The first man, Suraj Misty, was charged with manslaughter and handed a 23-year sentence. The two others, Lamar Wali and Sander van Aalten, are respectively serving sentences of seven years and six years eight months for conspiracy to commit robbery.
Detective Inspector Corfield added: “Mr Javeed’s family have been very patient and always said they have faith in the justice system to bring Zarif back to the UK to stand trial.”