An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday sent the suspect in the killing of Group Captain Asim Tariq to jail after a 14-day remand for an identification parade.
Tariq was shot dead a day earlier while trying to rescue a woman near Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue in Margalla police station’s jurisdiction. According to initial reports, Tariq was passing through when he noticed a woman who had alighted from a motorcycle while the driver allegedly pulled her by the hand.
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He returned and stopped near the motorcycle, prompting the woman to run to the other side of his vehicle. During the confrontation, the alleged suspect exchanged harsh words with the officer before opening fire on him. Tariq later succumbed to his injuries while the suspect fled the scene. Police sources said the woman stated the suspect was her colleague who had offered to take her to work but allegedly changed the route and tried to take her elsewhere, leading to a fight. Tariq intervened in time and ensured her safety.
The suspect was produced before ATC judge Abu Al-Hasanat Zulqarnain with his face covered. Special Public Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain and Investigating Officer Akhtar Hussain informed the court that two eyewitnesses were available and identification was required.
The court noted that the suspect had been arrested a day earlier and was facing serious charges involving the killing of an armed officer. It directed the prison authorities not to allow any change in the suspect’s face, appearance or physical features until the identification parade was completed. The suspect has been ordered to appear in court again on July 20.
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Meanwhile, a First Information Report (FIR) of the case was registered, including charges of murder and under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The FIR, lodged on the complaint of Wing Commander Imran Khurram Nawaz, stated that Tariq stopped the suspect from misbehaving with a girl, whereupon the suspect opened fire on him. Tariq died at the scene.
Separately, Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, said the suspect opened fire on Tariq after the officer intervened when the suspect allegedly tried to forcibly take a woman with him.
At a news conference, the police chief said the shooting occurred at 11:21 a.m. and that the suspect was arrested within nine hours. He said the suspect and the woman worked at the same store in Melody and had previously visited them together.
On the day of the incident, the suspect allegedly wanted to take the woman to a park or other location, but she refused. The officer intervened after witnessing the altercation, after which the suspect returned on his motorcycle and shot him.
The IG said 11 police teams investigated the case, reviewed footage from 275 Safe City cameras and used artificial intelligence tools to trace the suspect.
He was arrested in Islamabad after allegedly buying a Skyways bus ticket and switching off his mobile phone data.
