ISLAMABAD: As the Islamabad police booked five suspects in a terrorism case in connection with an alleged encounter near Pirwadhai on June 10, the contents of the FIR registered over the case stood in contrast to the initial version shared by the police.

The case registered at the Sabzi Mandi police station also includes Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including the one concerning attempted murder.

The FIR said that a seven-member police team was on duty at the Carriage Factory Chowk when it stopped a motorcycle on which three persons were riding. Instead of stopping, the bike riders started shooting at the police with their handguns. Subsequently, Constable Fahad Amin sustained a bullet injury in his leg.

In the meantime, another motorcycle on which two persons – said to be accomplices of the three suspects – were riding appeared on the spot and started shooting at the police with automatic weapons, causing injuries to their accomplices.

The police, however, fired in the air and took cover to escape the volleys of bullets whereas the suspects managed to escape.

Soon after the shootout, a man named Gul Sher appeared on the scene and told the police that the suspects had robbed him of his motorcycle. According to the FIR, a report over the incident was registered at the police station at around 6:35am. Later, the FIR was also registered in reference to the report.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2024