Motive unknown: Two cops shot dead outside imambargah

A policeman and a passerby were also injured by the five assailants; police unsure what actual target was.

RAWALPINDI:

At least five unidentified assailants killed two police constables and injured another deputed outside of imambargah in the Racecourse area on Monday. A passerby was also shot and injured by stray bullets.

The police said that five attackers riding on two motorbikes opened firing on the constables outside of Qasr-e-Shabeer Imambargah.

Constables Muhammad Imran and Zaheer Abbas died on the spot, while Constable Faheem Abbas was injured.

There was no ongoing gathering or event at the imambargh at the time of attack.

The police said that Zaheer Abbas and Faheem Abbas were both from Attock, while Muhammad Imran was from Chakwal. Sources said that Faheem and Zaheer were both Shia and the attack may have been sectarian target killing.



Racecourse Police Station House Officer Raja Mussadaq told The Express Tribune that five assailants riding on two bikes came to the front of the imambargah and began firing at the constables on duty. He said that after killing the police officials, the assailants made no effort to enter the imambargah.  “After killing them, the attackers immediately fled from the scene on their motorbikes,” he added.

He said he was trying to confirm the religious affiliations of constables Zaheer and Faheem. “There are reports that they both are Shia, but officially, I can’t say anything for sure. Maybe the assailants targeted them, but identifying on duty police constables’ school of thought is quite difficult for anyone as we change the duty roster every day. However, we will investigate the attack from all angles.”

He added that because the targets appeared to be policemen, it may be an attempt by militants or gangs to demoralise members of the force deputed outside imambargahs,”

Regional Police Officer Akhat Hayat Lalika also could not confirm whether the attack was sectarian, targeting the police, or targeting the imambargah.

On December 17, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of Asna Ashari Imambargah in the heavily-guarded Gracy Lane area, killing four including two police officials. The bomber tried to enter an imambargh, where a majlis was ongoing. When the police stopped him from moving past a checkpoint, he blew himself up.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2013.