RAWALPINDI: After the failure of the police to investigate the killing of three of their officials, the Punjab home department has formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate the case under Anti-Terrorism Act, Dawn has learnt.

The policemen were killed in an attack by unidentified persons outside the highly sensitive (category ‘A’) Imambargah Qasr-i-Shabir in Dhoke Syedan.

The JIT comprises the assistant superintendent of police from the Cantonment Circle, station house officer of Race Course police, an inspector from Counter Terrorism Department Punjab, Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The JIT would improve and expedite the investigation of the case.

“Police have already requested the authorities concerned to constitute a joint investigation team as it looked like a case of sectarian violence,” Inspector Raja Musaddiq, one of the members of the JIT, told Dawn.

He said none of the militant organisations had claimed responsibility of the attack so far, but the police see similarities of this incident with a gun attack on a shop at Pura Qila on February 21. Three people were killed in the attack at Pura Qila.

“Police see similar groups behind the two sectarian killings who acted in the same style and later escaped uncaught,” Raja Musaddiq said, adding that the police had investigated two clerics in connection with the killing but could not get any information from them.

Four policemen were guarding Imambargah Qasr-i-Shabir in Dhoke Syedan when some unidentified men opened fire on them, killing three policemen and injuring the others on December 30, 2013.

During a departmental inquiry, punishments were awarded to the negligent policemen for failing to retaliate against the attackers, the source close to the investigation revealed.

The Punjab Constabulary (PC) contingents had been called to assist the Rawalpindi police on special duty for Chehlum. Their stay in the city was extended due to the Raja Bazaar incident, after which they were deployed for the security at Imambargahs.

At the time of the attack, the three policemen were carrying sticks, usually used by riot police to push back protesters, instead of guns.

The attackers were wearing black clothes, and were riding on two motorbikes.