Two shot, injured for 'gate-crashing' airport

FIR registered; suspects break through a checkpoint late night before guards open fire

RAWALPINDI:

A case has been registered at Airport Police Station against the two injured men over an incident involving an alleged attempt to forcibly cross the main entry point of New Islamabad International Airport and firing.

According to the FIR, the case was registered on the complaint of Airport Security Force (ASF) duty officer Inspector Muhammad Waseem.

He stated that they were on duty late at night when a white-coloured Mira car moved rapidly towards the ASF checkpoint.

The vehicle had Islamabad registration number BKD289 on its front and a different number, AMU287, on its rear.

When ASF security staff tried to stop the car, it did not stop. Despite being signalled to halt, the occupants broke the checkpoint barrier and attempted to proceed towards the airport building without identification and search.

Meanwhile, another private vehicle carrying Customs Intelligence Inspector Saira and her staff also reached the checkpoint. The customs staff asked the ASF personnel on duty to stop the Mira car.

When the suspicious Mira continued moving forward, ASF Corporal Sufyan opened fire at the vehicle. After the firing brought the suspicious car to a stop, two injured men were found inside.

The injured men were identified as Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Kohlu, Balochistan, and Rehmatullah, a resident of Taunsa Sharif, Dera Ghazi Khan. Both injured men were shifted to PIMS Hospital.

A case was registered against the two suspects under Sections 353, 186, 279 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly attempting to forcibly enter the airport premises. Police said further investigation was under way.

According to preliminary police investigations, car occupant Abdul Jabbar is a proclaimed offender wanted by Kohlu Police Station in Balochistan.

The two suspects were allegedly travelling in a non-customs-paid vehicle whose front and rear number plates carried different registration numbers.

The customs team, led by female Inspector Saira Hassan, was pursuing the suspicious vehicle.

The suspects apparently appeared unfamiliar with the area and, while trying to evade pursuit, drove the vehicle through the airport's main gate and further inside.

Despite being stopped, they did not halt at the security checkpoint and broke through the security cordon.

Further investigation into the incident is under way.