By Shakeel Ahmed
ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI: Two unidentified gunmen opened fire on a scanner vehicle at the old toll plaza in the Sabzi Mandi police station’s remits, killing two policemen and injuring one.
The policemen were on routine duty manning the scanner vehicle on the old toll plaza in the federal capital when two men walked up to then and started shooting indiscriminately. The assailants fled unchallenged.
IG Aamir Zulfiqar set up two teams under two SPs to catch the attackers. Police were combing the Industrial Area but suspects have been arrested so far.
The deceased included Head Constable Saqlain Sagheer Haider and Constable Khurram Shahzad. Constable Khurram Shahzad was critically injured and was still lying uncoincious at Pims, whereas Constable Tahir Barood remained unhurt.
The scanner machine is meant to check vehicles entering and leaving the city. It can detect arms and explosives. The important of scanning vehicle had further increased due to the upcoming Muhrramul Haram, when security is on red alert.
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Mysterious flare
Police conducted a search operation around Islamabad International Airport (IIA) after a pilot reported seeing a flash rising from ground towards before landing.
Pilot of a flight coming to Islamabad from Quetta, after making a safe landing at IIA, informed the air traffic control and security officials that he saw a flash rising towards the aircraft from the ground nearly eight kilometres from the airport. Acting on the information, the Airport Security Force (ASF) and other airport officials circulated information to officers responsible for outer-security cordon of the airport. Subsequently, Saddar Beruni, Chauntra and Naseerabad police stations started a search operation which continued for three hours.
Police were asking questions about aerial firing, clash or quarrel in the localities. Firing in air to mark jubilation is a custom in Pakistan, however, it is illegal and strictly banned around airports.
Police officers concerned gave clearance after finding nothing about discharge of firearms in the areas under their watch during that particular time when the said aircraft was approaching for landing at IIA. The operation near Chakri Road and Thalyan Interchange continued until late in the night.
A senior officer of Rawalpindi police confirming the search operation told media that airport’s area fell under two districts with 70 per cent in Rawalpindi and 30 per cent in Attock.
He added that operation continued for long because it was a widely spread area. He expressed that flare witnessed by the pilot could apparently be from crackers which may have been used in a wedding ceremony.
He said that the police were still searching all areas within the range according on airport’s complaint.
Paedophile arrested
A teenaged paedophile has been arrested from outskirts of federal capital in Tarlai.
Wafar Hussain told Koral police that his four-year old son was kidnapped by the nominated suspect, who took victim to his home in Tarlai and raped him. Islamabad IG Aamir Zulfiqar taking notice of the incident, ordered immediate arrest of suspect. The police team led by Koral SHO conducted a raid and arrested the suspect, who was said to be 16-year old.
Bike lifter booked
Golra police arrested a motorbike thief and recovered 12 stolen bikes from him. The suspect, Bilawal Kashi, had stolen the motorcycles from areas in jurisdiction of Shalimar and Golra police stations.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to stealing more motorcycles, besides the dozen recovered from him. Subsequently, police presented Kashi before a magistrate and acquired his physical.
Liquor bottles seized
Police have arrested a drug dealer and recovered huge quantity of foreign and local liquor along with other drugs worth millions of rupees on Wednesday.
The police have recovered over 1,000 bottles of local and foreign liquor in a raid in precincts of Rawat police station. Acting on a tip-off, Rawat police conducted a raid on a rented house where Nazim, Imran Dastagir and Raja Kamran were storing imported liquor bottles. Watching the police, Dastagir and Kamran escaped, while Nazim was caught.
Police recovered over 1,000 bottles of foreign and local liquor, besides 1.5 kilogrammes of heroin from the premises. SHO Rawat Kashif Malik told media that raids were being carried out to arrest the remaining suspects.
