Swabi Police arrest two alleged shooters of ATC judge

One suspect claimed to have confessed crime; given up names of accomplices

SWABI:

The Swabi Police claimed on Thursday to have arrested two main shooters who of Swat Anti-Terrorism Court Justice Aftab Afridi, his wife and two children on April 4.

According to Swabi DPO Shoaib Khan, both the killers - identified as Muhammad Zakir Shah and Shehzad - had opened indiscriminate fire on the judge’s car near Ambar Interchange in Swabi, brutally martyring the four people.

“Zakir has confessed his crime before the court,” the DPO said, adding that during interrogation, the accused also gave up names of more accomplices.

The accused also disclosed that they were duly armed with sub-machine guns (SMGs) while Zakir was present in a car with Abid Afridi while Shehzad was with Jamal Afridi.

It was earlier reported that the judge’s driver and guard were also seriously injured in the attack.

The DPO said that an FIR was registered on behalf of the late judge’s son.

Speaking about the incident, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Dr Sanaullah Abbasi had termed the incident tragic, adding that an investigation was underway. “The accused will be arrested soon,” he had stated.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had also condemned the attack.

Read ATC judge along with family gunned down near Swabi interchange

Taking to Twitter, the premier vowed that the “perpetrators of this gruesome act will be apprehended and dealt with the full severity of the law”.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan described the act as a cowardly and cruel one.

“They [attackers] won't be able to escape the law,” he added.

The provincial chief executive expressed his grief over the loss of life in the incident and condoled with the late judge and his family's relatives.

In a press release issued by the Pakistan Bar Council, its vice-chairman Khush Dil Khan and executive committee chairman Faheem Wali condemned the brutal murder of the judge and his family.

“It is deeply disturbing for the legal fraternity that a respectable judicial officer was murdered in such a brutal manner,” read the statement.