Demoted policeman ‘attempts suicide’

FAISALABAD:

A police sub inspector demoted last week to the rank of an assistant sub inspector shot himself on Thursday. He had been on duty in Khushpur in Tarkhani police area. He was taken to district headquarters hospital, where he was said to be in critical condition.

A police officer speaking on the condition of anonymity said that Nazeer Ahmad of Tarkhani police was demoted by the Operations senior superintendent police on charge of negligence. He said told The Express Tribune that Ahmad had been demoted without being issued a show cause notice or being given a chance to explain. On Thursday, the police officer said, Ahmad shot himself in the shoulder. He had apparently aimed at his chest and missed. Ameer Nasir Javaid, the city police officer’s spokesman, however, said that Ahmad was injured while cleaning a 0.30-bore pistol. He said Ahmad had apparently pushed the trigger not realising that there was a bullet in the chamber.

He was taken to a private hospital, from where he was referred to divisional headquarters hospital. Doctors treating him said that his condition was critical.

His family told The Express Tribune that he was dejected after the demotion, but they said it was hard to believe that he had tried to suicide.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2013.