Youth’s murder: Family protests lack of police action

FAISALABAD:

Relatives of a college student staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday after she died at a hospital from injuries sustained in shooting by two gunmen on Friday.

The protesters gathered near Chenab Chowk on Jhang Road and blocked the intersection for traffic and demanded the arrest of the suspects.

Due to the protest sit-in, motorists faced a great deal of difficulties and long queues of the vehicles were seen on Jhang Road. Akram Ali, an uncle of the deceased, said that Areesha had been a first year student in Islamia College.

“She was going with her brother to her college on a motorcycle on Friday when they were attacked near Government College University, Faisalabad. Areesha was seriously injured and taken to hospital. Her brother remained unharmed in the attack,” Ali said. Areesha was pronounced dead by the doctors on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had taken notice of the attack and directed police to arrest the suspects.

On Monday, City Police Officer (CPO) Sohail Habib Tajik had announced the arrest of one of the attackers, identified as Faraz Tayyab.

“A special team, headed by Gulberg SHO Muhammad Siddique, arrested Tayyab from his house. Police also seized a 30-bore pistol used in the attack,” the police official had said.

The protesters on Tuesday demanded the arrest of the second attacker.

“Police are not arresting Tayyab’s accomplice. He is threatening us with dire consequences for pursuing the case,” Akram said.

The protesters burnt tyres and erected blockades on Jhang-Faisalabad Road.

Gulberg circle deputy superintendent and the Gulberg Station House Officer Muhammad Siddique met the protesters. The DSP assured them that the second attacker would be arrested soon. On this assurance, the protesters then dispersed.

Station House Officer Muhammad Siddique told The Express Tribune that police teams were looking for the second accused nominated by the victim’s family.

He said police had also sent the deceased’s body for post mortem examination.

The SHO said the police were waiting for the post mortem examination.

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