Two persons allegedly involved in killing of army officer held

The city police chief Thursday said that police have arrested two persons allegedly involved in the killing of Major Mohammad Laraib Akhter, an SSG commando who was killed in Sector G-9/1 on December 22.

The deceased came to Islamabad on official duty and was visiting his friend at the time of the incident. He was sitting on a greenbelt when two persons came and fired at him, the police officer said, adding that as a result he suffered a bullet injury to his head and died on the spot.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan flanked by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Waqarud din Syed while addressing a press conference said that police have arrested alleged killers of Major Laraib, adding it was totally a blind murder case and police resolved it within two weeks.

He said that Major Laraib was murdered by two street criminals who had been arrested due to hard work of two police investigation teams working under the supervision of DIG (Operations). These teams headed by SP (Investigation) and SP (Saddar) worked day and night, he said.

However, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqat through his tweet said that both alleged killers Baitullah and Gul Saleem are Afghans. It was a case of mugging which turned into murder after resistance. The killers were caught through the number plates of their motorbike.

The IG said that crime rate has come down in the city due to efforts of the police. Due to improvement in law and order, the United Nation has restored Islamabad's status as family station, he said, adding World Crime Index 2019 ranked Islamabad as the safest city of Pakistan.

The IG said that over 1,690 cameras of Safe City Project have been made functional and remaining would soon start working. There are some technical problems with respect to the Safe City Project about which the police have informed the government, he added. Like Motorway Police, he said that proposal of Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) for increase in traffic fines has been forwarded to the government in order to decrease traffic violations.

The IGP rejected the social media posts regarding increase in crime rate in sectors F-10 and F-11 and said that a campaign was initiated against Islamabad Police which is untrue. Due to successful policing in these areas, Aamir Zulfiqar said that four criminal gangs comprising 16 persons have been recently arrested from these areas and they are being interrogated.

He said that persons involved in murder of a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official during mobile snatching attempt in Aabpara area have been arrested. The policy of Free Registration of Crime was implemented and several police officials have to face disciplinary action over delay in registration of cases.

He also welcomed Sri Lankan cricket team for its upcoming visit to Pakistan and said that effective measures would be taken for team's security.