ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: A joint inv­estigation team (JIT) has been constituted to probe the kidnapping and murder of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Superintendent of Police Tahir Khan Dawar, Dawn learnt on Friday.

Besides, police also included two sections — 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (murder) — in the FIR registered with the Raman police station on Oct 28 in connection with the kidnapping of SP Dawar. The police said that under the law, the JIT comprising senior police officers and representatives of intelligence agencies investigated the cases registered under the ATA.

After adding 7ATA to the case, police approached the capital administration with a request to constitute a JIT, officials said. Consequently, the administration issued a notification to that effect signed by the deputy director administration.

A large number of people, including political figures, throng slain officer’s residence to offer Fateha, condole with family

A superintendent of police (investigation) will be convener of the JIT, while its members include the Shalimar DPO, Crime Investigation Department DSP, investigation officer of the case, as well as representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

The capital administration requested directorate generals of the ISI, MI and IB to nominate their representatives for the JIT, the officials said.

Meanwhile, a team comprising officials of the Homicide Unit returned to Islamabad from Peshawar after collecting details and recording statements of the people concerned, the officials said, adding that the team had been sent to Peshawar to fulfil legal requirements viz-a-viz the case.

Police said autopsy on the body of the slain SP had been conducted and its report was awaited.

In Peshawar, a large number of people, including political figures, are visiting the residence of SP Dawar to offer Fateha and condole with the grieved family.

The slain police officer was laid to rest in Hayatabad Phase-I graveyard on Thursday late night after his second funeral prayers were offered at Ladies Club in the Phase-IV area. A large number of people attended the funeral prayers.

On Friday, Awami National Party’s senior leaders Mian Iftikhar Hussain, former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao visited the resident of SP Dawar and offered Fateha.

Talking to reporters on the occasion, Iftikhar Hussain said the government was confused about Tahir Dawar’s kidnapping and subsequent murder. He said the police officer had been kidnapped from Islamabad and his body was recovered in Afghanistan, which had impacted the relations between the two countries.

He demanded that the government conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and award exemplary punishment to those behind this gruesome act.

Aftab Sherpao also sought proper investigation into the officer’s murder.

The ANP also announced that it would hold demonstrations across the province on Saturday (today) in protest against the killing of SP Dawar.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2018