PAF Group Captain Asim Tariq laid to rest with military honours

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq, who was killed while trying to help a woman during an alleged abduction attempt in the capital, was laid to rest with full military honours, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the ISPR said funeral prayers for the officer were offered earlier in the day. He was buried with full military honours in recognition of what it described as his exceptional courage, selfless devotion and strong sense of duty.

Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu attended the funeral prayers along with senior officers, airmen and a large number of members of civil society. The ISPR said they paid final respects to the officer and honoured what it called his supreme sacrifice.

Referring to the incident, the ISPR quoted the air chief as saying the sacrifice "epitomises the finest traditions of the PAF and the Armed Forces of Pakistan"

It also quoted ACM Sidhu as saying that through his actions, the officer had shown that "men and women of the PAF remain steadfast in their commitment not only to safeguarding the nation’s frontiers, but also to protecting the lives, dignity and honour of their fellow countrymen"

Incident and arrest

The shooting took place on Sunday within the limits of Margalla police station, near Air University and opposite Bahria University. Group Captain Tariq was travelling to Rawalpindi on an official assignment when he noticed a man forcibly pulling a woman towards his motorcycle.

The officer then took a U-turn and stopped near the bike. As he stepped in, the woman moved towards his vehicle for safety. Police said the suspect first exchanged words with the PAF officer and then fired at him.

At a press conference on Sunday night, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi said the suspect had been arrested within nine hours of the incident. He said the woman and the suspect worked at a cash and carry outlet in G-6, and that the man would sometimes pick and drop her off. According to the police chief, after taking her with him on Sunday, the suspect wanted to take her to a park or another place, but the woman resisted, prompting him to stop the motorcycle at 9th Avenue.