Close call: Agriculture department official escapes attempt on life

Rahman was en route to work when attackers ambushed his vehicle, injuring driver.

GILGIT: A senior government official escaped an attempt on his life when gunmen ambushed his vehicle in Gilgit on Friday.

The research director of Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) agriculture department, Dr Fazal Rahman, was en route to his office when unidentified armed men shot at his vehicle. Rahman remained unhurt in the attack, however, his driver was injured.



The incident occurred at 10:30am outside the agriculture office near Karakoram International University.

According to witnesses, the four assailants, riding on two motorcycles, fled after DSP Hanif Muqaddam reached the site and retaliated.

“Had the DSP not arrived immediately, the attackers would have killed us both,” the injured driver told doctors at the hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

According to SP Gilgit Ishaq Khan, a manhunt has been launched to arrest the culprits. “This is an unfortunate incident but we will arrest the perpetrators soon,” he told The Express Tribune.

Fear gripped Gilgit in the wake of the incident as the town has witnessed various levels of violence in the recent past. Friday’s assassination attempt was condemned by locals who termed it a conspiracy to flame tensions in the region.



In December 2008, former director agriculture Abdul Waheed and four others, including two of his family members, lost their lives in an ambush in Gilgit.

Demand for security

Officials of the agriculture department and other offices situated on University Road demanded foolproof security in the area, sharing that they felt insecure with the present level of security.

“We feel threatened all the time as there aren’t enough safety measures around our offices,” said an employee, whose office is located near the agriculture department.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2014.