RAWALPINDI: Police investigating the killing of two policemen, one of whom was deployed on security duty near an Imambargah, interrogated activists of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi who are already in police custody about possible links with the incident, sources close to the investigation said.

The policemen were eating at a restaurant in Sadiqabad when they were shot at on Monday.

Police have registered a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against three unidentified attackers and have prepared sketches of the attackers with the help of eyewitnesses. The sketches will enlarge the scope of the investigation.

Police said that there was no doubt that it was a targeted attack against the police.

Constable Waheed Anjum who was deployed on security duty at Imambargah Rizvia was eating with his friend Qamar Zaman Shah who had returned from his duty at another spot. Three motorbike riders opened fire at them, killing Constable Anjum and injuring Shah who succumbed to his injuries at a hospital an hour later.

Regional Police Officer Akhtar Umar Hayat Laleka told Dawn that the two other police officials associated with Muhafiz force were ambushed when they tried pursuing the fleeing culprits.

“The Muhafiz Force personnel were patrolling in the area when they heard the gunshots and saw the gunmen fleeing. They started following them and when they reached a dark street, the gunmen ambushed the policemen, injured them and escaped,” the RPO said.

He said it was a target killing in which the policemen were targeted however a sectarian link to last night’s incident is yet to be established.

The RPO confirmed that the police have detained some suspects and were investigating some under-trial people belonging to banned outfits. However, no one has been charged so far.

Meanwhile, the funeral of the slain policemen was offered at the Police Lines Rawalpindi on Tuesday and a guard of honour was held.

Constable Waheed Anjum was laid to rest in Rawalpindi while Qammar Shah in his ancestral village Miani Dheri of Gujar Khan.

His father was also a police official and had died while performing duty in Quetta two years ago.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2014