On suspicion: ANF officers held for killing two men

ISLAMABAD: Two officers of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) were arrested by the motorway police on Sunday for killing two men on suspicion of smuggling drugs. The third police officer managed to flee from the scene soon after the incident.

According to sources in Motorway police, Assistant Sub-Inspector Munir and Constable Waheed along with another constable signalled a Toyota Hiace to stop on the motorway near Chakri but the latter sped. The ANF officials followed the Hiace and opened fire on it after a brief chase. One of the six occupants of the van Fazal Deen died at the spot, while Asad sustained serious injuries and died in Pims hospital Islamabad. Three others suffered injuries and were shifted to the hospital by the motorway police ambulances.

The van was going to Multan from Peshawar, police said. After shooting at the vehicle and discovering that its occupants were only carrying imported fabric, the ANF officials exited from Chakri interchange but they were pursued by the officials of motorway police who arrested them after a brief chase.

They were later handed over to the Chakri police for legal action. The ANF officials were booked on offences of checking the vehicle out of their jurisdiction and also for drugs while they were not carrying drugs. However, they told the police they had reports that the people in the van were carrying drugs.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2011.