Web Desk: A Pakistan Air Force group captain was shot dead after intervening in an attempt to force a woman onto a motorcycle in Islamabad, police and initial official accounts said on Sunday.
Authorities identified the officer as Group Captain Asim. Police said the suspected gunman fled the scene, and law enforcement agencies have launched a search operation to arrest him.
According to preliminary accounts, Group Captain Asim was driving along Islamabad’s Ninth Avenue when he noticed a man allegedly struggling with a woman beside a motorcycle.
Officials said the officer turned his vehicle around and stopped to intervene after seeing the woman in distress. The woman reportedly moved toward his vehicle in an apparent attempt to seek protection.
Police said the suspect, identified as Saad, allegedly exchanged heated words with the officer before opening fire. Group Captain Asim sustained critical injuries and later died.
According to police, the woman told investigators that the suspect was a colleague from her workplace who had offered to give her a ride.
She alleged that he later diverted from the agreed route and attempted to take her to another location against her will. When she resisted, a struggle ensued.
The woman told investigators that Group Captain Asim intervened at a critical moment, allowing her to escape from the suspect.
Police said efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the suspect. Investigators are collecting evidence and recording witness statements to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not announced any arrests, and no statement from the suspect or his representatives was immediately available.
The killing has prompted widespread expressions of grief and tributes across Pakistan, with many public figures and social media users praising Group Captain Asim for intervening to assist a woman in distress.
He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.
The Pakistan Air Force has not yet released a detailed statement on the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
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