Fatal shooting: ‘Trigger happy’ policeman remanded for five days

Father of the deceased complains terrorism charge omitted from the FIR

FAISALABAD: A sessions judge on Wednesday handed sub-inspector suspected of killing a teenager to police on a five-day physical remand.

Faryad Cheema is suspected of shooting dead 15-year-old Farhan Ahmad Khan and injuring his friend Fahad Javaid, 17, when the boys were taking pictures with a toy gun in Safina Park in Madina Town.

An FIR was registered against him under sections 302, 324 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of Khan’s father, Iftikhar Ahmad.

Peoples Colony police also registered a case against Khan and Javaid on Cheema’s complaint, charging them with attempted murder, interference in official work and possession of illegal weapons.

Talking to newsmen, Khan’s father said that police had registered a case against his son and his friend knowing that the children had no weapons and had not interfered in official work.

He said police had not included sections on terrorism in the FIR against Cheema.

“My complaint was dealt with as if Cheema had killed my son in a private room,” he said.

“Police failed to mention that the shooting occurred at a public place and that Cheema caused terror by opening fire at unarmed children.”

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and has directed the CPO to present a report as soon as possible.

Cheema was brought to district courts under tight security on Wednesday.

When some media men tried to take Cheema’s pictures, policemen misbehaved with them. According to a private TV channel, policemen also beat one of its cameramen.

Later, journalists gathered Zila Council Chowk and blocked University Road for traffic in protest against police.

They chanted slogans and demanded immediate action against policemen who had beaten the cameraman.

They dispersed after a representative of the CPO’s office assured them that the matter would be looked into.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2015.