Cop surrenders in ATI employee's murder case

ABBOTTABAD:

Police Sub-Inspector Ahsan Khan, a key accused in the murder of Sardar Arif, a supervisor at Ayub Teaching Institution (ATI), surrendered before an additional sessions judge and was taken into custody by a heavy police contingent.

The hearing was scheduled before Additional Sessions Judge VI Asfandyar Yousafzai in connection with the proceedings on his pre-arrest bail application. Ahsan Khan, who had been suspended following the incident, appeared in court to surrender.

Strict security arrangements were in place during the proceedings. The victim's father expressed satisfaction over the arrest of the key accused.

Another accused, SHO Gunner Hamza Khan, has obtained interim pre-arrest bail but did not appear before the court after securing protective bail for travel. No arguments were exchanged between the lawyers during Saturday's proceedings following Ahsan Khan's surrender.

On October 5, Sardar Arif was allegedly shot dead in broad daylight following a dispute involving an Afghan neighbour. According to the case, Sub-Inspector Ahsan Khan, Gunner Hamza Khan and other suspects entered the victim's house and opened indiscriminate fire in front of his wife and child.