Killing of principal: Motive was a personal grievance, says police

'During investigation it was emerged that accused had an argument with the principal over three days of absence'

SHABQADAR: The Charsadda district police officer on Tuesday dismissed claims that blasphemy could be a motive for a college student who shot dead his principal, saying that Fahim Shah killed Sareer Ahmed over an argument he had with him regarding his absence from college.

Charsadda DPO Zahoor Babar Afridi told the media that during the police investigation, it emerged that the accused had an argument with the principal over three days of absence.

Afridi also said that the student acted individually and was never radicalised by anyone. He added that the motive was a personal grievance and nothing else.

The officer added that the principal was a Hafiz-e-Quran with a degree in Islamic Studies, and was respected by locals for his character, so there is no question that he could have done anything blasphemous.

Fahim was sent into police custody for three days for further investigation after he was presented in a Shabqadar court on Tuesday.

During his appearance in court, the police took strict security measures and barred everyone from entering the court premises.

Locals said that Faheem Shah’s father and other family members are police employees. They confirmed that Faheem had gone to the Islamabad Dharna with his friends.

Meanwhile, Islamia College has been closed for three days over the killing of its principal. A large number of people also visited the principal’s home, who leaves behind a wife and three children.