PTI worker’s death: Police concealing names of alleged killers

Eight people have been booked, sources say losing candidate Hanif Abbasi was among them.

RAWALPINDI: The police are unwilling to reveal the names of the alleged killers of a PTI worker, who was gunned down on Saturday night.

Investigation officer Sub-Inspector Sabir Hussain of the New Town police deferred request for the names of the arrested persons.

“We have registered an FIR against eight persons, but I cannot tell you their names right now, you should call tomorrow,” he said and disconnected the phone. However, another police officer said cases have been registered against PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi and seven others.

The police official added that they are checking video and photographs taken by media members and other people at the scene.

Operations SSP Mujahid Akbar could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

PTI workers also accused the police of protecting the killers and demanded their immediate arrest.

“We were celebrating our victory. If ‘they’ are so brave, they should accept their defeat and congratulate us,” said Akram, a PTI worker at the party’s Rawalpindi office, adding that after learning of the PML-N’s success nationwide, the police were afraid to take action against them.

Muhammad Ali, a cousin of the deceased Usman Farooq, said they were celebrating the victory when eight armed persons came and opened firing at them.

Four men were shot after some armed men, allegedly PML-N workers, opened firing on PTI workers celebrating Imran Khan’s victory on Benazir Bhutto Road on Saturday night.

Farooq of Mohalla Eid Gah in Asghar Mall died on way to hospital, while the injured were identified as Bilal, Muhammad Aqil and Irfan Mehmood.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.