Trader killed in new year’s first robbery

Residents lament poor security in garrison city

RAWALPINDI:

The calendar might have turned a new page but for the residents of Rawalpindi, the safety concern remains the same as a trader was gunned down in broad daylight on Wednesday within the limits of the Dhamial police station for resisting a robbery.

According to a spokesperson for the police, the suspected robbers entered a shop owned by a local trader in the Pir Meher Ali Shah Town area intending to carry out a robbery. Seeing his property being looted, the shop owner made a botched attempt to pin the robbers down, he said adding that responding to the resistance, the accused opened fire, critically injuring the victim.

The victim, identified as Liaqat, was reportedly associated with the motorcycle spare parts business.

The spokesperson furthered that, initially, the victim was shifted to a nearby hospital where he died during treatment. He said the robbers fled the scene after the incident.

Eyewitnesses said that two robbers showed up on a motorcycle and made away with looted goods and cash. The spokesperson said the body was later shifted to the Rawalpindi District Headquarters Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Saddar SP Nabil Khokhar reached the spot with a heavy contingent of police and inspected the crime scene, he said. The police also collected important evidence from the spot, he added.

Saddar SP said that teams have been formed to arrest the accused. All evidence including CCTV footage is being collected by forensic teams and all the accused involved in the incident will be arrested and brought to justice, he added.

Citizens lamented that last year, the crime situation in the garrison city remained too high and with this incident, the chance of a respite this year seems slim.

They asked the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the increasing incidents of crime in the Rawalpindi district and ensure the safety of the citizens.

Contractor’s house attacked

Miscreants, allegedly associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), launched a cracker attack at a government contractor’s house in Rawalpindi for refusal to pay extortion.

According to a spokesperson for the police, the incident took place within the limits of the Dhamial police station. He said no loss of life was reported, however, the walls on the terrace were partially damaged by the explosion.

He further said the contractor while filing a complaint with the police said that since October 7 last year, an unknown person had been sending him messages on his WhatsApp, demanding Rs15 million as extortion.

The complainant told the police that the unknown person claimed to be a member of the outlawed TTP. “When I blocked his number on WhatsApp, he sent messages on my brother's number,” he said.

He further stated that on December 28, 2022, when he was at his residence, a loud explosion was heard. The next day, the unknown person sent a WhatsApp message to his brother and told him that the previous day’s explosion was a final warning. The alleged miscreant threatened him that if he failed to pay the demanded amount, he would blow up his residence.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2023.