ISLAMABAD: Three days have passed but there have been no official words from the police or any other government authority regarding the reported killing of a senior member of Tehrik-i-Taliban (Haqqani group) in a shooting incident in the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday.

Though the local and international media, quoting unnamed official sources, have been confirming the killing of Taliban leader Naseeruddin Haqqani, the police claim they do not know the identity and the whereabouts of the ‘other unknown person’ injured in the attack along with a baker, and do not even know whether the man is still alive.

However, a senior police official on Wednesday told Dawn that they had started investigations on the complaint of the father of the baker – Mohammad Farooq – who had received bullet injuries when he was busy working at his Tandoor where Naseeruddin had reportedly come to buy bread (Roti).

Interestingly, according to the police, no one has so far contacted them to register a murder case of Naseeruddin Haqqani.

Quoting some eye-witnesses of the Sunday’s incident reported in Bhara Kahu area, sources in the police told Dawn that the assailants of the senior member of Tehrik-i-Taliban were believed to be Afghan nationals.

They said the information obtained from the locals of the area suggested that the culprits seemed to be Afghan nationals and appeared to be well-off.

The eye-witnesses claimed that the two attackers were seen talking on phone, apparently getting some tips from other accomplices, who reportedly chased Naseeruddin in a vehicle as he came out of his house at Shahpur in a jeep.

Moreover, the attackers did not seem to be in a hurry and had left the spot after a few minutes once they had confirmed that the Taliban leader was deed.

There has been no mention of killing of Naseeruddin Haqqani or any person in the FIR, since Farooq’s father had only claimed that ‘another unknown person’ had received bullet injuries with his son in the incident that happened on Simly Dam Road.

A senior police officer, when contacted, said the case had been registered on charges of murder attempt since there were no reports of any killing in the incident.

In response to a question, the police official said the identity of the other injured person as mentioned in the complaint was yet to be established. Contrary to the eye-witnesses’ accounts, he claimed that they did not even know whether the man was alive or not.

He also refused to confirm the media reports that “the other injured person” was Taliban leader Naseeruddin Haqqani and that he had died on the spot.

“The police will take action and start investigation if any family member of the other person – whoever he is including Naseeruddin Haqqani – approaches us and gives further information,” he added.

On the other hand, sources in the police said some of the locals of Shahpur and Simly Dam Road had spotted some suspicious persons roaming around in the area.

The sources said the gunshots were heard by the personnel present in the Bhara Kahu police station located at a stone-throw distance from the murder site.

They said even after hearing the shots, none of the police staff rushed to the spot. Instead, the police reached there well over half an hour when the body of Naseeruddin Haqqani had already been removed by people who had reached the site immediately after the killing.

The sources said the house of Naseeruddin Haqqani at Shahpur was locked and that his body had been transported to Miramshah in North Waziristan for burial.

“Some lights of the house are still on, suggesting that the family had left the place in a hurry,” the sources added.