Five Arrested in Cold Case of Taxi Driver Ethsham Ul-Haq Ghafoor's 1994 Murder

Unsolved Murder of Ethsham Ul-Haq Ghafoor Reopened After 30 Years

The long-unsolved murder of Ethsham Ul-Haq Ghafoor, a 26-year-old taxi driver, has led to five arrests, bringing renewed attention to a case that has haunted the Nottinghamshire community for three decades.

On November 22, 1994, Ghafoor was found shot dead in his taxi at Lambley Lane Playing Fields, his hands bound to the steering wheel.

The crime was described as an execution-style killing, but the identity of the perpetrator remained unknown until recently.

Breakthrough in Investigation Following Public Appeal

In a significant development, police made five arrests on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, following a public appeal for information marking the 30th anniversary of Ghafoor's death.

The suspects, four men aged between 51 and 64, and a woman aged 47, were taken into custody in the Sneinton and Bakersfield areas of Nottingham.

The investigation was revived after a renewed push for information from the public, including a £50,000 reward offered by Crimestoppers.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin expressed gratitude for the support from the community, noting that this breakthrough has brought hope to Ghafoor's family and to the wider community.

Family’s Emotional Response and Call for Justice

Ghafoor’s sister, Aisha Ghafoor, who has tirelessly campaigned for justice for her brother, spoke at a recent press conference. She described the immense emotional toll the murder has taken on their family.

"When they killed Shami, they killed every chance of us being a happy family again," she said, echoing the pain of a family that has been seeking closure for decades.

Continuing Investigation and Community Support

The investigation is ongoing, with detectives urging anyone with additional information to come forward. Police have reassured the public that a heavy police presence in the area is part of continued investigative efforts.

If you have any information related to this case, please contact Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or call 101 quoting incident number 0300 of November 15, 2024.

This is the latest update in a case that remains unresolved after 30 years, with the hope that these recent arrests will finally bring justice to Ghafoor’s family and the community.