PM Shehbaz, President Zardari express grief over Group Captain Asim Tariq’s death, order transparent probe

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed grief and sorrow over the death of Group Captain Asim Tariq, saying the officer sacrificed his life while protecting the life and honour of a woman, setting an unparalleled example of courage, bravery and devotion to duty.

In a statement, the prime minister said the nation would always honour the sacrifices of such brave sons, describing Group Captain Tariq’s actions as a reflection of exceptional courage and commitment. PM Shehbaz extended his condolences and sympathies to the family of the deceased officer, saying the entire nation stood with them in their grief.

The prime minister further directed the relevant authorities to conduct a complete and transparent investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and punished in accordance with the law.

President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences over the death of Group Captain Tariq. In a statement, the president said that sacrificing one’s life for the protection of a woman was a shining example of national service and courage. He also extended his condolences to the family of the slain PAF officer and prayed for strength and patience for his loved ones.

Referring to the incident, President Zardari said it was deeply concerning that such a crime had occurred on one of Islamabad’s major thoroughfares. He stressed the need to ensure the complete prevention of similar incidents in the future and called for effective measures to strengthen public safety.

Suspect arrested

Earlier on Sunday, police arrested the suspect accused of fatally shooting the PAF officer who intervened to save a woman from an alleged abduction attempt in the capital. According to the sources, the suspect was apprehended from the Soan Zone area of the capital following a manhunt launched after the incident.

Police said Group Captain Tariq was driving along Ninth Avenue when he saw a motorcyclist allegedly grabbing a woman’s hand. He stopped his vehicle and confronted the suspect, enabling the woman to escape to the other side of the road.

A heated exchange followed, during which the suspect allegedly opened fire on the officer leading to Group Captain Asim sustaining critical injuries and later died, while the attacker fled the scene.

During the investigation, the woman told police that the suspect was her colleague. She said he had offered to drop her at work but allegedly changed the route and attempted to take her to another location against her will. Realising something was wrong, she managed to get off the motorcycle before the confrontation took place. Following the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi sought a report from the Islamabad inspector general of police and directed authorities to ensure the suspect’s swift arrest and bring those responsible to justice.

Group Captain Asim is survived by his widow, a daughter and a son.