Police fail to apprehend killers of family
A day following the tragic shooting incident where armed assailants killed five family members and injured another near the Chakri Road area, the Chountra police station registered a case against 12 suspects under various provisions, including murder. However, none of the accused have been apprehended.
The victims, including Shuja Younis, an Airport Security Force (ASF) officer stationed at the Islamabad International Airport, were en route to the district court for a murder case hearing when assailants, identified as Naeem Sultan and Sher Ali, opened fire on them.
The case was filed against Naeem Sultan and 12 others based on the complaint of Mudassir Iqbal, a relative of the deceased.
Iqbal stated that a longstanding animosity existed between the deceased and Naeem Sultan over a murder case.
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.
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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.
According to the FIR, the victims were intercepted by 10 armed men near Chach Mor, allegedly at the behest of Iqbal Anwar and Umair Iqbal, who opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the death of five individuals and the injury of a seven-year-old.
The complainant further said, the accused killed seven-year-old Anabiya Fatima, 12-year-old Tabinda Sajid, child Atif, Shuja Younis and Muhammad Saqib and injured seven-year-old Falak Sher by firing indiscriminately.
The police said that a case was registered and police teams were formed to arrest the accused who will soon be arrested.
However, despite the registration of the case and the formation of police teams, no arrests have been made even after 30 hours since the incident.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 10th, 2024.