Islamabad highway: Commuters suffer as murdered boy’s relatives protest

The body of 18-year-old was laid out in the middle of the road, resulting in the traffic jam.

ISLAMABAD:


Tempers ran high for those travelling on Islamabad Expressway, where routine traffic turned into a two-hour jam on Sunday after a street cricket match took a wrong turn.


The body of 18-year-old Haseebur Rehman, who was shot dead over a minor dispute, was laid out in the middle of the road, resulting in the traffic jam.


According to Station House Officer Karim Niazi, Rehman was killed when a group of young boys playing cricket near Kuri Road got into a dispute while playing and fired gunshots during the scuffle.

His murder instigated a protest by his relatives, who criticised the negligence of police in arresting the culprits.

Though drivers tried diverting through Lehtrar Road and Khanna Pul, the efforts were in vain as all roads linked to the expressway remained squarely blocked.

The protesters dispersed only after getting assurance from the assistant commissioner that an official investigation will be conducted to probe the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2012.