Islamabad ATC sends PAF officer murder suspect on 14-day remand for identification parade

Court orders police to produce suspect again on July 20

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday sent the suspect in the murder of Group Captain Asim Tariq to jail on a 14-day judicial remand for an identification parade.

Tariq was shot dead a day earlier while trying to rescue a woman near Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue in the jurisdiction of Margalla Police Station. According to initial reports, Tariq was passing through when he noticed a woman who had dismounted a motorcycle while the rider was allegedly pulling her by the hand.

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He turned back and stopped near the motorcycle, prompting the woman to run to the other side of his vehicle. During the confrontation, the alleged suspect exchanged harsh words with the officer before opening fire on him. Tariq later succumbed to his injuries, while the suspect fled the scene. Police sources said the woman stated that the suspect was her colleague who had offered to take her to work but allegedly changed the route and attempted to take her elsewhere, leading to a struggle. Tariq intervened in time and ensured her safety.

The suspect was produced before ATC Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Zulqarnain with his face covered. Special Public Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain and Investigation Officer Akhtar Hussain informed the court that two eyewitnesses were available and the identification process was required.

The court observed that the suspect had been arrested a day earlier and faced serious charges involving the killing of an armed forces officer. It directed jail authorities not to allow any change in the suspect's face, appearance or physical features until the identification parade was completed. The suspect has been ordered to be produced before the court again on July 20.

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Meanwhile, a first information report (FIR) of the case was registered, including charges of murder and under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The FIR, lodged on the complaint of Wing Commander Imran Khurram Nawaz, stated that Tariq stopped the suspect from misbehaving with a girl, upon which the suspect opened fire on him. Tariq died on the spot. 

Separately, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the suspect opened fire on Tariq after the officer intervened when the suspect allegedly tried to forcibly take a woman with him.

Addressing a press conference, the police chief said the shooting occurred at 11:21am and the suspect was arrested within nine hours. He said the suspect and the woman worked at the same store in Melody and had previously visited together.

On the day of the incident, the suspect allegedly wanted to take the woman to a park or another location, but she refused. The officer intervened after witnessing the altercation, whereupon the suspect turned back on his motorcycle and shot him.

The IG said 11 police teams investigated the case, reviewed footage from 275 Safe City cameras and used artificial intelligence tools to trace the suspect.

He was arrested in Islamabad after allegedly purchasing a Skyways bus ticket and switching off his mobile phone data.