A court in Islamabad has sent PAF officer murder suspect Saad Abbasi to jail for a 14 day judicial remand to complete an identification parade in the case involving the killing of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq. The hearing was conducted by an anti terrorism court, where investigators informed the judge that eyewitnesses still needed to formally identify the accused as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to police, Group Captain Asim Tariq lost his life after stepping in to help a woman who appeared to be in distress on 9th Avenue. Investigators said the officer noticed a man allegedly trying to force the woman to go with him after she got off a motorcycle. Acting responsibly, the PAF officer stopped his vehicle to assist the woman, who immediately moved toward his car for safety.
Police stated that an argument then broke out between the suspect and the officer. During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly opened fire, critically injuring Group Captain Asim Tariq, who later succumbed to his wounds. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
During the court hearing, the investigating officer requested judicial custody so the identification parade could be completed. Prosecutors also informed the court that two eyewitnesses were available to identify the accused. When questioned by the judge, the suspect claimed that he was with a woman and that the officer had interfered. The judge challenged this explanation before approving the request for judicial custody. The suspect is scheduled to appear before the court again on July 20.
Islamabad Police later revealed that the suspect was arrested through an extensive investigation involving 11 specialised police teams. Authorities reviewed footage from 275 Safe City and private CCTV cameras along with recordings from 137 DVRs to trace his movements. Police also disclosed that the suspect had known the woman for only a few days and had allegedly been pressuring her to accompany him elsewhere instead of going to work. The investigation continues as officials gather additional evidence and complete the legal process.
