Cardiologist’s murder case: Formation of investigation team recommended

Also proposes posthumous award of Hilal-i-Imtiaz to Dr Shahid Malik

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Tuesday recommended formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) in murder case of cardiologist Dr Shahid Nawaz Malik.

The committee also proposed award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz to the slain doctor.

Dr Malik was shot in head by unidentified gunmen on February 14, 2015 when he was coming out of the hospital after performing a surgery.

He was rushed to the CMH Rawalpindi where he fought for his life for six days.

The Margalla Police Station had registered an FIR on the same day under sections 324/34 and later added Section 302. The penal also asked concerned authorities to make the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) a part of the Safe City Project to address security-related concerns.

Committee chairperson Abdul Rehman Malik, while highlighting composition of the JIT said a DIG rank police officer would head the team, while one official would be taken from ISI and the IB each besides including a doctor.

He asked for release of notification of the JIT formation within next 24 hours.

The committee members questioned as to why the high-profile case of target killing could not be resolved yet and termed this a failure of the police.

Daughter of the slain cardiologist, Dr Hifsa Shahid, along with Dr Malik’s father were present on the occasion.

She expressed her utter dissatisfaction over the pace of investigation in the case and demanded for formation of JIT comprising forces’ personnel.

Hifsa was sure that the killing was a fit case of target killing and terrorism.

Dr Shahid was of the opinion that attitude of the Pims administration had been extremely negative with the victim’s family.

She said there was no factor of family enmity whatsoever and the motive of target killings was yet to be known.

Senator Shibli Faraz expressed his displeasure as to why the Pims administration did not cooperate in this issue saying that the hospital must react as a responsible body to see that the murder case was resolved.

Dr Shahid Malik was an outstanding doctor, he said.

Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed questioned Islamabad SSP Sajid Kiani about number of arrests made into the case.

No arrests could be made so far, the official replied.

However, the SSP said police had interviewed many staffers into the case.

Committee chairperson said the case was not properly investigated and asked the concerned authorities to let the panel know about findings.

Senator Abdul Qayyum said the slain doctor was shot dead, while he was on-duty.

He expressed his astonishment that surveillance camera did not work for 15 minutes during which the doctor was killed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2016.