Islamabad police have arrested the suspect in the murder of a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer who was trying to protect a woman, the Islamabad police chief announced on Sunday night, hours after the incident. The shooting occurred near Shaheen Chowk on Islamabad’s busy 9th Avenue, close to several government offices and the PAF Headquarters, according to Islamabad police spokesman Muhammad Taqi Jawad.
Details of the Incident
The PAF officer, Group Captain Asim Tariq, left his office when he noticed a man arguing with a woman and decided to intervene. The suspect, Saad Abbasi, shot the officer and fled the scene. The PAF officer later succumbed to his injuries. Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Ali Nasir Rizvi said the suspect was trying to forcefully take the woman with him, but she kept hitting him repeatedly, prompting the air force officer to intervene to save her.
Police Investigation and Arrest
IG Rizvi stated that 11 teams were constituted for different tasks, including digital surveillance, cellular technology, private camera review, and safe city camera analysis. Teams also went to different districts to pick up suspects. The investigation blended technical data with traditional policing methods. Police reviewed footage from 275 safe city cameras in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as hundreds of private cameras. The case was traced within nine hours.
After fleeing the crime scene, the suspect changed his shirt, switched off his phone, and tried to flee the city. Police eventually traced him and discovered he had previously done the same with another woman, but the matter was settled by families instead of being reported to the police.
Background of the Suspect
The suspect worked with the woman at a departmental store in Islamabad and had offered to give her a ride to work. When he tried to take her elsewhere, she resisted, leading to an altercation. IG Rizvi hailed the slain officer as a true patriot, saying he did what anyone else would have done in such a situation.
Victim’s Family
Group Captain Tariq is survived by his wife and two children, according to a PAF spokesperson.
