Five members of Islamabad's anti-terror squad arrested after young man allegedly shot dead

ISLAMABAD: Five members of Islamabad Police's anti-terror squad were arrested on Saturday after a young man was allegedly shot dead by them while travelling in his vehicle.

According to police, 22-year-old Usama Nadeem was shot on Islamabad’s Srinagar Highway on Friday night reportedly after he ignored police warnings to stop.

An Islamabad Police spokesperson said the police were acting on a tip-off about a robbery attempt in Shams Colony. When the anti-terror squad reached the locality, they spotted a "suspicious vehicle" with tinted windows and asked it to pull over. When the driver failed to comply, the police chased the vehicle and shot at its tires.

“Unfortunately, two bullets hit the driver,” the spokesperson added.

The man's body was then taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for a post-mortem. Waqas Khawaja, a PIMS spokesperson, said the autopsy revealed the young man was shot six times — in the chest, back, and head.

Khawaja added that the shots were fired from in front of the man.

Kasur man stabs father to death, severely injures mother: police

Father disputes police statement

On the other hand, the young man’s father, in a complaint to the police, stated his son was returning home after dropping off a friend at 2am.

“My son was shot multiple times. They [anti-terror squad] openly committed terrorism by aiming at the windscreen instead of the tires."

The father demanded that the personnel involved be charged with terrorism.

He said that his son had informed him about a past occasion when he had had a heated exchange with some police personnel who according to Usama had "threatened him of dire consequences".

The night of the incident, the police allegedly followed his car and then shot him, he said.

He also requested Prime Minister Imran Khan and Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed to take notice of the incident and provide him justice.

Case registered under murder, ATA clauses

Superintendent of Police (SP) Zubair Shaikh said a first information report (FIR) has been filed under the murder clause and relevant sections pertaining to the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Karachi Company Police Station in the federal capital against five members of the anti-terror squad involved in the killing.

In another statement, the Islamabad Police has said that all police officials involved in the killing have been detained. Islamabad Inspector-General Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan has taken notice of the incident and sought a report.

The Islamabad Police spokesperson said no one will be allowed to take law into their own hands, adding that the matter is being investigated and action will be taken against the police officials found guilty.

Probe committee formed

Chief commissioner orders judicial inquiry

Chief Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali Ahmed, taking notice of the matter, has ordered a judicial inquiry. The Additional District Magistrate will probe the death of the 22-year-old, according to a statement.

The magistrate will submit the inquiry report within five days, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of the young man have been offered on Srinagar Highway, and it is now open for traffic.

Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Gill react

Reacting to the incident, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz asked: "Who is responsible for the murder of this innocent student who earns [bread] for his family by working hard at night?"

The sanctity of human life has been violated in the last two and a half years, claimed Maryam.

"There has never been such an insensitive government in Pakistan, like the [one in office] now," she added.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said that a "transparent" inquiry would be conducted. "The facts will be made public."

Whoever is responsible will be prosecuted according to the law, he said, adding that such incidents are traumatic for the whole society.

Furthermore, PPP Punjab secretary-general Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed said that the youth's killing by Islamabad police was saddening.

"The murder of the young man will prove to be the last nail in the coffin of this government," Manzoor said, adding that whenever Shaikh Rasheed enters a ministry, there is a loss of human life.

Manzoor, slamming Rasheed, claimed that he could not handle a ministry. "However, he claims to be an expert on politics."

The country's internal security has been compromised after Rasheed's appointment, he said.

Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, taking notice of the incident, sought a report from IG Islamabad.

"A transparent inquiry will be conducted into the matter," Nawaz added.