Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved a package of Rs70 million for the grieving family of Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Khan Dawar.

SP Dawar, head of Peshawar police’s rural circle, was kidnapped in Islamabad on October 26 and his body was recovered in Afghan­istan’s Nangarhar province the next month.

"SP Tahir Dawar was a brave son of Pakistan," Afridi said at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Salahuddin Khan Mehsud and SP Dawar's brothers. He recalled that the deceased police officer had previously survived two attacks and was a bread earner for three families.

Editorial: Family of SP Dawar and the police force he represented deserve a full explanation on his murder

Giving a breakdown of the aid package, the minister said Rs50m would be given to SP Dawar's wife and children, Rs10m would be given to two of the police officer's widowed sisters and their children, and another Rs10m would be handed to the family of Dawar's deceased brother.

In addition to the financial assistance package, SP Dawar's son will also be offered a job as an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police, Afridi announced.

He said a joint investigation team (JIT) had been formed to probe his abduction and murder after Prime Minister Khan took notice of the case. The probe team was continuing its work in the investigation, he said.

The minister announced that a five-member parliamentary committee would be formed to review progress in the investigation of SP Dawar's murder.

The panel, comprising three members belonging to treasury benches and two from the opposition in both the National Assembly and Senate, will coordinate with the JIT.

Ahmed Din, a brother of SP Dawar, thanked the government for announcing the package for his family and reposed his confidence in the parliamentary committee and the ongoing investigation.

SP Dawar had gone missing under unexplained circumstances in Islamabad on Oct 26. A kidnapping case was registered with the Ramna police on Oct 28.

On Nov 15, the missing police officer was found murdered in Afghanistan and a few days later his body was handed over to Pakistani authorities. Following the recovery of the body, section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) were added to the FIR.

'Anti-Pakistan forces'

Afridi during the press conference cautioned the nation against being deceived by "anti-Pakistan forces", which he said were misusing footages taken from electronic and social media to polarise the people.

He said everybody had the right to do politics but those forces that were using the people to spread disinformation and destabilise the country would be countered.

"We are watching everything. We are vigilant," he warned, adding that the government will make an example out of such negative elements.

The minister said there was a consensus among the political leadership and the armed forces on issues of security. He said the key stakeholders should realise their responsibility regarding peace and security of Pakistan.

"Some elements are creating differences in the society but we have to promote positive thinking. The state is strong and it will not compromise on its principles," he said.