Five of a family perish in attack

Assailants manage to escape after shooting victims in broad daylight

RAWALPINDI:

At least five members of a family were killed and one was injured in broad daylight in Rawalpindi on Monday.

The tragic event unfolded within the jurisdiction of the Chountra police station when unknown assailants opened fire on individuals travelling in a car.

According to sources, the injured is said to be in critical condition.

The suspect managed to flee the scene after carrying out the attacks.

According to the police, the incident occurred at 8:34am in the Chakri Road area. The assailants ambushed the occupants of the car, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to two.

In the ambush, 46-year-old Muhammad Atif, 27-year-old Shuja Younis, and 8-year-old Anabiya lost their lives instantly. Three injured individuals were transported to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, where 12-year-old Tabinda Fatima succumbed to her injuries. The remaining two injured were receiving treatment at the hospital where one more succumbed to his injuries.

The police reported that the victims’ family members were en route to court for a murder case hearing when the assailants, including Naeem Sultan and Sher Ali, opened fire on them. Preliminary investigations suggest the incident stemmed from an old feud.

Taking note of the incident, CPO Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani directed SP Saddar Muhammad Nabeel to reach the scene promptly with a substantial police force and ensure the swift arrest of the accused. A significant police contingent arrived at the spot, securing the vehicle and collecting crucial evidence. A mobile forensic laboratory team was dispatched to aid the Chountra police in the investigation, gathering additional evidence, including bullet shells recovered from the crime scene.

A case has been registered against the accused.

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A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 confirmed that rescue teams promptly responded to the shooting incident. The deceased and injured were transported to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, with three ambulances and other rescue vehicles involved in the operation. Post-mortem examinations were conducted, and the bodies were handed over to the relatives of the victims.

Expat killed, trader injured

Rawalpindi continues to witness a surge in street crime as bandits in police uniforms shot and killed an expatriate on his return from the UK and injured a local businessman in an upscale housing society near Rawat.

The first incident unfolded as suspects erected blockades on the Range Road within the limits of the Race Course police station and fatally shot Tasaruf Mehmood, hailing from Dhodial, Azad Kashmir.

The victim along with his six-year-old daughter, was en route to his in-laws in Dhok Chaudharyan after arriving at New Islamabad Airport from Britain.

The assailants, disguised as police officers, stopped the deceased and attempted to snatch his handbags. The situation escalated when Mehmood resisted and the armed robbers, indifferent to the presence of the innocent child in the car, opened fire, leaving Mehmood critically injured.

The attackers fled the scene with a bag containing foreign currency, valuables, and travel documents.

Rescue 1122 rushed the victim to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Following the incident, the police initiated an investigation, collecting evidence from the crime scene. The police said closed-circuit TV cameras in the area are being scrutinised to trace and bring the culprits to justice.

This incident reflects a disturbing trend where criminals, donned in police uniforms, frequently target overseas Pakistanis arriving at the New Islamabad Airport. Despite the recurrent nature of such incidents, concerns have been raised about lack of attention from the authorities in addressing this security issue.

Within a few hours of the first incident, suspected criminals carried out a second mugging incident on Kashmir Road within the Cantt police station’s jurisdiction. Two motorcyclists, one wearing a police uniform and the other in plain clothes, intercepted a filling station cashier and his companion when they were going to the bank to deposit Rs2 million and escaped after snatching the cash.

According to sources, the suspects carried out a third robbery in a private housing society within the Rawat police station’s jurisdiction.

The bandits targeted a businessman and his partner and when they were on their way to the bank with Rs3 million in cash.

Wearing police uniforms, two motorcyclists stopped them, identifying themselves as police officers. Upon resistance, they opened fire on the victim and managed to escape after snatching a bag full of cash.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2024.