Probe panel rules out suicide in SP Adil Akbar case

A three-member probe committee, investigating the death of Superintendent of Police Adil Akbar, has found no clear evidence to suggest that the senior police officer died of suicide, according to officials familiar with the investigation.

The committee examined the post-mortem report, witness statements, and other available evidence before finalising its findings. The report confirms that SP Akbar died of a gunshot to the face.

According to sources, the panel recorded statements from his wireless operator, driver, and other staff members who had been in contact with the officer shortly before the incident. A psychologist was also consulted during the inquiry, who mentioned that SP Akbar had sought medical advice regarding his mental health twice at different times.

The final report is expected to be submitted today to Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi, who will forward it along with his recommendations to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The interior minister will determine the next steps, officials said. 

The unexplained death of SP Akbar had raised serious concern within police ranks, prompting the formation of the high-level inquiry to ensure a transparent investigation.

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Last week, initial reports said SP Akbar, who was posted as SP Industrial Zone, allegedly shot himself while on duty near a private hotel in the Red Zone of the federal capital. He was rushed to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences where he was pronounced dead.

Following the incident, authorities collected evidence from the scene, and took into custody various material including the service pistol, uniform and other things from the scene. The weapon’s fingerprints are being verified through NADRA, while officers present at the scene were taken into custody for questioning. Forensic samples collected during the autopsy are also part of the case file.

SP Akbar was regarded as a respected officer of the Police Service of Pakistan. He held an MPhil in Governance and Public Policy from the National Defence University and had previously served in multiple districts of Balochistan, where he worked in security management, crisis response, counterterrorism, community policing and human rights protection.