Islamabad: A senior Pakistan Air Force (PAF) intelligence officer was shot dead after intervening to help a woman during an alleged abduction attempt in one of Islamabad’s most heavily guarded districts, raising fresh concerns over security in the capital.
Group Captain Asim Tariq, an officer serving with the PAF Intelligence Directorate, was killed on Saturday near Shaheen Chowk, close to Pakistan Air Headquarters and Air University.
According to the Pakistan Air Force, Tariq was passing through the area when he noticed a woman in a heated confrontation with a motorcyclist. Believing she was in danger, he stepped in to assist. The PAF said the suspect was allegedly attempting to abduct the woman.
Police said the woman later told investigators that the accused worked in the same office as her and had offered to drop her home after work. She alleged that he deviated from the agreed route and began heading towards a secluded area. When she protested, an argument ensued, drawing the attention of Group Captain Tariq.
As the officer confronted the suspect, the gunman allegedly opened fire, killing him at the scene before escaping on a motorcycle.
Security forces and police immediately cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. The woman’s statement has been recorded, but authorities had not publicly identified the suspect or confirmed any arrest at the time of publication.
The killing occurred in a high-security zone housing Pakistan Air Force Headquarters and Air University, prompting renewed scrutiny of security arrangements after a senior military intelligence officer was fatally shot in broad daylight.
