Rawalpindi police on Wednesday refuted media reports claiming that accountability judge Mohammad Bashir’s vehicle had been fired at.

Earlier, some TV channels had reported that the judge was unhurt after his vehicle was fired at within the limits of the Airport police station. However, Rawalpindi police spokesperson Sajjadul Hassan told Dawn.com that the force had not received information about any such incident.

He said an individual had fired gunshots in the air near PAF Chowk. He said the suspect had stepped out of his own car after having an argument with his family, before firing in the air.

The police spokesperson said that officials had immediately arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect. Hassan said the suspect was taken to the Airport police station where legal proceedings were initiated against him.

“The youth is addicted to ice (meth),” the police spokesperson said, adding that he was also under the influence during the time of his arrest.

“The matter concerns aerial firing by a suspect after an argument with his family and is not a case of firing at some important individual,” the spokesperson said.

Judge Bashir is the longest-serving judge of the accountability court of Islamabad and is attaining the age of superannuation next year. He has presided over several high-profile cases concerning the country’s top political leadership.

He had convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family in the Avenfield reference in 2018. The judge is also presiding over the Toshakhana and Al-Qadir Trust cases against ex-premier Imran Khan.

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.