The atmosphere in the Islamabad Sessions Court, once thick with the grim certainty of Asif Siddiqui's guilt, now crackled with shock and confusion. The air conditioning hummed futilely against the rising tension. Haroon sat ramrod straight in the front row reserved for the prosecution, his face a carefully controlled mask, but a vein pulsed visibly at his temple. Beside him, the Public Prosecutor (PP) shuffled papers, his expression tight. Across the aisle, Asif Siddiqui's Defense Counsel (DC) couldn't suppress a glint of vindication. In the gallery, Azam Khalil looked shattered, Faika buried her face in her hands, and the murmur of the crowd swelled.
**Scene 1: The Forensic Bomb Shell**
**Judge:** "The court reconvenes regarding Case No. FIA/345/2024, State vs. Asif Siddiqui. We are here to receive the conclusive forensic DNA analysis report as ordered. Forensic Officer, please present your findings."
A senior officer from the Islamabad Forensic Science Lab took the stand, his expression professionally neutral but his posture stiff. He placed a thick, sealed envelope on the evidence table.
**Forensic Officer:** "Your Honor, the National Forensic Science Agency (NFSA) has completed the comprehensive DNA analysis on samples recovered from the victim, Sadia Khalil, and the crime scene, comparing them to the reference sample provided by the accused, Asif Siddiqui." He broke the seal and extracted the report. "The analysis confirms the presence of male DNA foreign to the victim at the crime scene, specifically recovered from critical biological evidence linked to the assault."
He paused, the silence in the courtroom absolute. Haroon's knuckles were white where they gripped the bench in front of him.
**Forensic Officer:** "However... the DNA profile obtained does *not* match the reference sample of Asif Siddiqui."
A collective gasp ripped through the gallery. Siddiqui's head snapped up, a desperate hope flaring in his eyes. The DC leaned forward, a predatory smile forming.
**Forensic Officer (continuing):** "The report *does* confirm the earlier findings: fibers consistent with the accused's work overalls were found under the victim's fingernails, and a partial fingerprint lifted from the window ledge inside the victim's bedroom matches the left index finger of Asif Siddiqui."
**PP (jumping up, voice strained):** "Your Honor! The presence of his fingerprint *inside* the bedroom, at the point of entry/exit, combined with the fibers from a struggle, remains highly incriminating! His initial confession detailed the crime! The DNA discrepancy could indicate contamination, degradation, or..."
**DC (triumphantly interrupting):** "Or it indicates precisely what my client stated under oath! He was a panicked bystander who touched the scene trying to help! The DNA proves he did *not* commit the sexual assault! The fingerprint proves he was present, as he admitted – *after* the real killer fled! The fibers could have transferred during his attempt to render aid! The so-called 'confession' was extracted under duress during a chaotic arrest and has been retracted!"
**Scene 2: The Ghost Materializes – Jamal Khoso**
**PP (regaining composure, addressing the Judge):** "Your Honor, while the DNA excludes Siddiqui as the source of the seminal fluid, it *does* confirm the presence of *another* male perpetrator. Furthermore, the crime scene unit recovered *another* partial fingerprint – a thumbprint – from the exterior door handle, processed later due to smudging." He presented another document. "This print has now been matched through the NADRA database. It belongs to Jamal s/o Akbar Khoso, CNIC number ***********, resident of Flat 42, Al-Noor Plaza, Blue Area, Islamabad."
A new wave of murmurs erupted. Jamal Khoso – a real name, a real address. The phantom intruder had an identity.
**DC:** "This merely confirms my client's account! Jamal Khoso is the real killer! My client is innocent of the rape and murder!"
**PP (fiercely):** "Innocent? He lied about his involvement! He concealed his presence! He fled! He gave a false confession implicating only himself, then retracted it with a fantastical story when confronted with science! He is an accessory after the fact at the very least! He obstructed justice! His fingerprint places him *inside* the room where Sadia Khalil was brutally murdered! He is far from innocent!"
**Judge (hammering the gavel for silence):** "Order! Order in the court!" The judge reviewed the reports, his face grave. "The DNA evidence is conclusive and exculpatory for the accused concerning the charge of rape under Section 376 PPC. It also raises significant doubt regarding his direct involvement in the murder, given the presence of another individual's DNA linked to the assault. However, the fingerprint evidence places the accused definitively at the scene, inside the victim's bedroom, shortly after the crime according to the witness's text message timeline. His flight, initial false confession, and subsequent changing narrative severely damage his credibility and suggest consciousness of guilt for *some* involvement."
**Scene 3: The Court's Verdict – Release and a New Hunt**
**Judge:** "Based on the irrefutable DNA evidence excluding Asif Siddiqui as the perpetrator of the sexual assault, and the significant reasonable doubt it casts on his role in the homicide given the presence of Jamal Khoso's fingerprint and DNA, the court cannot justify his continued remand on the primary charges of Section 302 and 376 PPC."
Siddiqui visibly sagged with relief, a choked sob escaping him. Azam Khalil let out a low moan of despair.
**Judge:** "However, the evidence strongly suggests the accused was present at the crime scene, likely immediately after the murder, and knowingly misled the investigation. His actions constitute a serious obstruction of justice. Furthermore, his false confession wasted valuable police resources and court time."
The Judge fixed Siddiqui with a stern gaze.
**Judge:** "Asif Siddiqui, you are hereby ordered released from custody on the charges of murder and rape. BUT - You are fined Rs. 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Rupees) under Section 167 Cr.P.C. for causing a waste of the court's time and police resources through your false confession and initial concealment. Failure to pay will result in six months imprisonment. You remain bound by the court; your passport is impounded, and you must report to the local police station weekly. You are a material witness and potentially an accessory. Any attempt to flee or interfere will result in immediate re-arrest on more severe charges."
He then turned to the prosecution and police representatives.
**Judge:** "The court directs the Islamabad Police, specifically SSP Haroon Khan's team, to immediately locate, apprehend, and produce Jamal s/o Akbar Khoso before this court. A non-bailable arrest warrant is hereby issued for Jamal Khoso for the rape and murder of Sadia Khalil, based on the DNA match and fingerprint evidence. Investigate any potential connection or conspiracy between Khoso and Siddiqui. Submit a progress report within 72 hours."
The gavel fell. Chaos erupted. Siddiqui was escorted out by court staff, not to a cell, but towards processing for release, amidst a barrage of camera flashes and shouted questions. The Khalil family was surrounded by relatives, Faiza collapsing in hysterical grief. Haroon remained seated for a moment, the Judge's words echoing: *"...SSP Haroon Khan's team..."* The weight of failure, public scrutiny, and the Khalil's shattered hope pressed down on him, but beneath it surged a new, fierce determination. They had been wrong about the *who*, but the *what* remained monstrous. A new target had emerged.
**Scene 4: Regrouping in the Storm – The Hunt for Jamal Khoso**
Back at the Police Headquarters, the atmosphere was tense. The media outside shouted questions about the "botched investigation." Inside the incident room, Haroon faced his team. The triumphant energy from the Margalla raid was gone, replaced by a grim resolve.
**Haroon (voice low, cutting through the tension):** "We made a mistake. The science doesn't lie. Siddiqui wasn't the rapist, likely not the killer. But he was *there*. He lied. He obstructed. He delayed us finding the real monster – Jamal Khoso." He pointed to Khoso's NADRA photo now pinned to the board – a sharp-featured man in his thirties. "This is our target. This is Sadia's killer. Blue Area resident. Flat 42, Al-Noor Plaza. I want teams there *now*. Surveillance on the building. Track his mobile, his financials, known associates. Pull every camera feed from Blue Area around the time of the murder. Cross-reference with Siddiqui's contacts – was there *any* link? Did Siddiqui know him? Cover for him?"
He slammed his fist on the table, not in anger, but to focus the energy.
**Haroon:** "The Khalils' nightmare isn't over. Ours isn't over. We have 72 hours to find Khoso before we report back to the Judge. We find him. We bring him in. And we find out *why* Siddiqui took the fall, even temporarily. Move! Every second counts!"
The team exploded into action, phones ringing, keyboards clacking, maps unfurling. The hunt for Jamal Khoso had begun with furious urgency. Haroon walked to his office window, looking out at the city. The fortress of his family felt distant. The shadow of Sadia Khalil had deepened, twisted by a new face. But the resolve in his eyes was unbroken. One monster might have slipped through a crack in the evidence, but another wouldn't escape the net. Justice for Sadia demanded it. He picked up his phone, needing the anchor only one voice could provide.
**Haroon (dialing, voice weary but steady):** "Maryam. It's... complicated. We were wrong about the main killer. Someone else... Jamal Khoso. We're after him now." He paused, listening to her soft intake of breath. "Tell Ubaid... tell him Abbu still has work to do. Tell him we're still fighting for the girl who didn't get to grow up." He closed his eyes, drawing strength from the quiet love on the other end of the line. The battle was far from over, but the war for justice continued.