CCTV footage found: Police escort assailants, watch them open fire on victims

Ander Sher jeweller was attacked in July by his sister’s husband over demand for alimony

PESHAWAR: In a startling turn of events, it has come to fore that police helped armed assailants to attack a jeweller in the old city area and then escorted them to safety from the crime scene.

The CCTV footage of the incident that occurred four months ago in the presence of police at the city’s famous Ander Sher bazaar has surfaced.

The footage taken by closed circuit cameras show that the attackers came in a car followed by police officials in a rickshaw. The armed people sitting in the car wave their arms and open firing on the shops in Sheikh Yasin Tower. When the car of the armed people reaches the spot, a police official opens the door of the car.

The armed people moving towards the shops open fire and then later also torture the injured victims.

During this entire commotion, the police officials stand watching the incident unfold and do not arrest the perpetrators even when the armed persons are leaving. Instead of performing their duties, the police officials rather provide them protection. Five people, including two who were just passing by, were injured in the terror incident that occurred in July within the remits of Kabuli police station.

A jeweller from the Ander Sher, Arbistan is still under treatment for the six bullet injuries received in the attack. Arbistan’s nephew is also in a critical condition due to five bullet injuries in stomach and leg.

Arbistan has appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar to take notice of the incident and ensure the provision of justice.

He said that he had asked her sister’s husband to pay her the due alimony (haq meher), which infuriated that family so much that they attacked him.

Arbistan said that Naeem Shah of Sethi Town and Zahir Shah along with their abettors had opened fire four months ago and have been threatening to kill him. He said his nephew was hanging between life and death ever since he was hit by five bullets.

The victim said that police built a weak case and carried out incorrect investigation due to which the suspects were released soon. He informed that an FIR was registered against them in the Kabuli police station but due to weak sections they were released. Arbistan said that firing was opened on them in the presence of police, and while they were in the hospital, the suspects took advantage and secured bail from the court.

Peshawar SSP (operation) Javed Iqbal has said that investigation is underway regarding the firing incident in the presence of the police in the Ander Sher and its report will be brought to the fore soon. The SSP operation said that strict legal action will be taken against the police officials for not taking action against those who opened firing on the spot. He said that immediate notice was taken when the top police officials learnt about the CCTV footage and departmental action will be taken against the officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2018.