The Pakistani Taliban insurgent group claimed responsibility for the killing of Pakistan Air Force Group Commander Asim Tariq in Islamabad on Sunday afternoon. The suspect, who has now been arrested, was identified as Saad Abbasi (22 years old).The Pakistani Taliban also posted a mobile phone video and CCTV footage on social media showing the slain officer in his car wearing a seatbelt, refuting Islamabad Police’s account that the officer fell to save a woman from a kidnapper on the streets. The Pakistani Taliban said its “special killer unit” carried out the killing.The sources said that Tariq was attached to the Intelligence Directorate, which recently provided the coordinates of the recent drone strike in Afghanistan, which resulted in the killing of a large number of children and women, adding that he also participated in the failed “Operation Al-Bunyan Umm Marsous” initiated by Pakistan in response to Operation Sindoor.Media reported that Islamabad Police registered a case on charges of murder and terrorism against Abbasi and he was produced before an anti-terrorism court before being sent to judicial custody.Earlier, police told reporters that the PAF Group Commander was shot dead after intervening to rescue a woman from an alleged kidnapping attempt. Police claimed that the officer intervened to stop the attack, allowing the woman time to escape to the other side of the road. During the confrontation, the shooter allegedly insulted the officer before opening fire. The officer was seriously injured and died instantly.However, CCTV footage released by pro-Taliban Pakistan showed a woman riding a bike with the accused, rejecting the police allegations.
