Qavi probed on meeting with Qandeel during polygraph test: sources

LAHORE: The polygraph test of Mufti Abdul Qavi has been completed in Punjab Science Forensic Agency, sources said.

The lie-detection test went on for over five hours, during which Qavi, who is an accused in the murder of social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, was asked various questions, according to sources. He was also probed over his meeting with Qandeel and about his relations with the deceased’s brother who allegedly killed her.

Qavi was brought to Lahore from Multan for the polygraph test earlier on Wednesday.  

He was discharged from Institute of Cardiology in Multan on Tuesday and is now on a four-day police remand. He would be presented in the sessions court on Friday.

Judicial magistrate Mohammad Pervez issued non-bailable warrants for Qavi after investigation officer Noor Akbar requested the court to do so on the grounds that the cleric is not cooperating with the police. The cleric was arrested on October 18.

Qavi complained of chest pain and was admitted to a hospital, hours after he was remanded into police custody. He also underwent angiography in the following days and was discharged on Tuesday.

Qandeel Baloch murder

Qandeel, who shot to fame for her "bold" selfies that polarised Pakistan, was allegedly strangled in July 2016 by her brother Muhammad Waseem.

In his confession, Waseem claimed she had brought shame on the family and confessed to his crime in a press conference after his arrest. Later, a polygraph revealed that Waseem had help from his cousin Haq Nawaz and few others. 

Prior to her death, Qandeel, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, spoke of worries about her safety and had appealed to the interior ministry to provide her with security.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf suspended Qavi’s membership of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after Qandeel released pictures of herself with the cleric in a hotel room weeks before her murder, wearing his hat and pouting.

She had accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

"I thought I would expose him as he is in reality," she told AFP at the time. "He is a different person alone and different when he has his followers around him."

She had faced frequent abuse and death threats.

The 'honour-killing' had sent shockwaves across the country and triggered an outpouring of grief on social media for Baloch.