PAF Group Captain Asim Tariq Murder Case: CCTV Footage of Arrested Suspect Emerges
Police say the suspect allegedly attempted to force a woman onto his motorcycle before fatally shooting Group Captain Asim Tariq when he intervened. An FIR has been registered under murder and anti-terrorism charges.
ISLAMABAD: Significant developments have emerged in the investigation into the killing of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq, as Islamabad Police have obtained and reviewed multiple CCTV recordings allegedly showing the movements of the arrested suspect before and after the incident.
According to police, the footage shows the suspect, identified as Saad Abbasi, leaving Faizabad Bus Terminal for Lahore after the incident. Another CCTV clip allegedly shows him riding a motorcycle with the woman involved in the case, while additional footage reportedly captures him changing his clothes in an apparent attempt to avoid identification.
Police said the suspect is a 20-year-old resident of Band Khanna Road, within the jurisdiction of Khanna Police Station, and had previously worked as a salesman at an electronics shop. Investigators allege that he was attempting to force the woman to accompany him despite her refusal, leading to a physical altercation between the two.
According to Islamabad Police, Group Captain Asim Tariq noticed the altercation while passing through the area and stopped to inquire about the situation. Police allege that the officer intervened to prevent the suspect from forcibly taking the woman, after which the suspect became enraged.
Investigators say the suspect initially left the scene but later returned and allegedly opened fire on Group Captain Asim Tariq while he was inside his vehicle. The bullet struck the officer through his right shoulder and lodged in his chest, causing fatal injuries.
Police said the suspect fled immediately after the shooting, while senior officers, including the SP City, reached the scene soon after receiving information about the incident. The victim’s body was shifted to PIMS Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered at Margalla Police Station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). According to the FIR, the suspect was allegedly harassing the woman, and Group Captain Asim Tariq intervened and asked him to stop the unlawful act. The FIR states that the suspect later returned and opened fire on the officer.
Police sources further stated that eyewitnesses have expressed willingness to identify the suspect during legal proceedings. Investigators say forensic evidence has been collected, CCTV footage is being examined, and further investigation is underway.
