Hunar-e-Hawwa Mela: Constable arrested for threatening organisers

He was gunman of former CCPO deployed to guard his house

PESHAWAR: Police have arrested the gunman of DIG Imtiaz Altaf for sending a threatening letter to the organisers of Hunar-e-Hawwa Mela. They are searching for a prayer leader who encouraged him to do so.

The Hunar-e-Hawwa Mela was held in Hayatabad last week and provided an opportunity for women to showcase their skills and make some money of their own.

A senior police official said the gunman of former CCPO Imtiaz Altaf, who was deployed to guard his house, sent a threatening letter that created panic across Hayatabad. The suspect is a resident of Swat.

“The man was finally identified with the help of CCTV cameras and arrested,” he said. “He was identified as police constable Zahid who said during interrogation that he was told by the prayer leader that dubious activities were taking place at the festival.”

He added, “Consequently, [the gunman] sent a letter to the organisers and told them to wind up the event.”

The official added an FIR had been registered against the prayer leader and the police were looking for the prayer leader who escaped after the constable’s arrest.

“You cannot ignore such things as they can motivate others to attack gatherings in future,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2016.