Islamabad Police have arrested the suspect accused of killing a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer who lost his life while trying to protect a woman during a violent incident in the federal capital.
The shooting took place near Shaheen Chowk on Islamabad’s busy 9th Avenue, close to several government offices and the PAF Headquarters. According to police, Group Captain Asim Tariq had just left his office when he noticed a man involved in a heated argument with a woman. Seeing the situation escalate, he stepped in to help.
Police said the suspect, identified as Saad Abbasi, was allegedly attempting to force the woman to go with him against her will. The woman resisted and tried to stop him, prompting Group Captain Asim Tariq to intervene. During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly opened fire on the officer before fleeing the scene. The injured officer was taken for medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.
Addressing a press conference, Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Ali Nasir Rizvi said police launched an extensive investigation immediately after the shooting. A total of 11 specialized teams were formed, including digital surveillance experts, cellular technology investigators, Safe City monitoring teams, private CCTV analysts, and field officers conducting raids.
The IG said investigators reviewed footage from 275 Safe City cameras across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, along with hundreds of private security cameras. By combining technical evidence with traditional investigative methods, police successfully traced and arrested the suspect within nine hours of the incident.
According to the investigation, the suspect and the woman worked together at a departmental store in Islamabad. Police said the suspect had offered to give her a ride to work but allegedly attempted to take her to another location instead. When the woman resisted, an argument broke out, which ultimately led to the fatal encounter with the PAF officer.
After the shooting, the suspect reportedly changed his clothes, switched off his mobile phone, and attempted to escape the city. Police also revealed that the suspect had previously been involved in a similar incident with another woman, but that case was reportedly settled privately by the families without legal action.
Group Captain Asim Tariq is survived by his wife and two children. Paying tribute to the fallen officer, IG Rizvi described him as a true patriot who sacrificed his life while trying to protect another person, calling his actions an example of courage and selflessness.
