A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer, Group Captain Asim Tariq, embraced martyrdom after he was shot while trying to rescue a woman from an alleged assault by an armed man near Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue in the federal capital.
A police official told APP on Sunday that Group Captain Asim Tariq was driving through the area when he noticed a man allegedly trying to force a woman onto a motorcycle. Seeing the woman resisting and pleading for help, the officer turned his vehicle around, stopped near the motorcycle and stepped forward to intervene.
The official said the woman immediately moved towards the PAF officer for protection. The suspect, identified as Saad, allegedly started arguing with Group Captain Asim Tariq before pulling out a pistol and opening fire. The officer sustained fatal bullet injuries and embraced martyrdom on the spot, while the suspect and his accomplices fled the scene.
Police shifted the body of the martyred officer to Pakistan Air Force Hospital Unit-II, while officers from Margalla Police Station, including Additional SHO Siddique and Duty Officer Naveed, reached the scene, collected evidence and launched an investigation.
During initial questioning, the woman told investigators that the suspect was her office colleague who had offered to drop her at work. However, she said he allegedly changed the route and attempted to take her to another location against her will, leading to a struggle.
The woman told police that Group Captain Asim Tariq intervened at the right moment and helped save her before he was shot by the suspect.
Police have launched a manhunt to arrest the fleeing suspect and his accomplices, while investigators are examining all aspects of the case and collecting further evidence.
Group Captain Asim Tariq is survived by his widow, a daughter and a son. His sacrifice has drawn widespread tributes across the country, with many describing him as a courageous officer who laid down his life while protecting an innocent woman.
The police official said efforts were underway to arrest the accused at the earliest and bring all those involved to justice. Following the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences to the family of the martyred officer and sought a report from the Islamabad inspector general of police. Naqvi directed authorities to arrest the suspect at the earliest, saying that no effort should be spared in ensuring justice for the family of the martyred officer.
Meanwhile; Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq, who embraced martyrdom while rescuing a woman in Islamabad. The chief minister extended her heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family of the martyred officer, praying for strength and patience for them in bearing the irreparable loss.