A young man was fatally shot by a police officer in Islamabad's Sector I-10/1 in the early hours of Friday allegedly after failing to stop at a checkpoint, DawnNews reported.

Taimur received at least one bullet injury to the head after Samiullah Niazi of the police's Eagle Squad opened fire on his vehicle.

Taimur is reported to have died on the spot from the injury.

The officer fled the scene after the incident. Police said they had initiated a search for the suspect.

Police officials said they had instructed Taimur to stop his car but he had sped off. The police officer opened fire at Taimur after his refusal to stop, they claimed.

A female passenger in the same vehicle was reported to be in safe condition.

The incident sparked rioting and protests on Islamabad's IJP Road, with the victim's family dismissing the police statement and saying there had been no prior warning or order to stop before the officer opened fire. Protesters had set a police camp on fire, DawnNews reported.

The protesters later dispersed after negotiations with police officials, DawnNews reported.

A case has been registered against the police officer at the Sabzi Mandi police station by Taimur's brother. No arrests have been made.

Prior incidents

In May 2015, two young men were shot dead by a police patrol in Karachi's Bahadurabad area.

Police claimed that the the victims, along with four others on three bikes, refused to stop at a police checkpoint near the Tipu Sultan signal.

As a result, five policemen and their in-charge were suspended and arrested for shooting and killing the two motorcyclists.

In June the same year, two young men were shod dead in Punjab's Sadiqabad by two members of the Muhafiz Squad.

Two members of the squad were arrested while two others fled.

In January 2016, a youth in Karachi was shot dead by police officials for not allegedly stopping at a check post in the Gizri area.

The two police officials on duty – Altaf and Mudassir – were been taken into custody.