RAWALPINDI: The father of a five-year-old child who was shot and killed during celebratory firing near Lal Haveli on Independence Day has disputed the police’s claim that he refused to register a murder case regarding his son’s death.

Mohammad Shahid, the father, told Dawn the police had insisted he nominate someone in the case.

“How can I nominate somebody when I have not seen anyone firing into the air,” he asked.

Five-year-old was killed during celebratory firing on Aug 14, father says police insisted he nominate someone in murder case

Haram Ali, 5, was going to start school after this summer. He was shot in the head while on the roof of his home in Naya Mohallah amid celebratory firing on Wednesday.

Mr Shahid, a vendor, said Haram went up to the roof with his elder brother Husnain Ali to watch the fireworks display near Lal Haveli just after midnight. He was on the roof when he was struck by a stray bullet.

He said he took his son to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, but he did not regain consciousness and died after four hours.

“I was plunged into distress at the thought that such an incident could happen to someone else,” Mr Shahid said, but added that he could not accuse anyone when he did not see anyone firing into the air.

He speculated that the shooter may have been firing into the air during the fireworks display to disguise the sound.

“I was panicking and I did not know what to do, except to save my son’s life,” he said, adding that he refused to register an FIR because the police were insisting he nominate someone in the case.

He also quoted the doctors at DHQ Hospital as saying that eight children, including Haram, were treated for bullet injuries the night of the Independence Day celebrations.

Haram was buried in a local graveyard Thursday evening, and a large number of people attended the funeral prayers. Mr Shahid said a local parliamentarian and some junior police officials condoled with him on his son’s death, but no senior administration or police officials came to him.

He added: “People should not fire into the air, or the government should check it.”

There is a government ban on firing into the air, and special instructions have been issued to the district administration and police to implement the ban in Punjab.

The district police issued a press release on Thursday claiming that the police have registered a case regarding the killing of a five-year-old during celebratory firing on Independence Day, after convincing the victim’s father.

It said the city police officer has tasked Superintendent of Police (SP) Rawal Akram Khan Niazi to arrest those involved in firing into the air within two days.

It said the victim’s father has been assured that the police would arrest the person responsible.

Following Mr Shahid’s complaint, a murder case was registered against unidentified individuals with the City police station, and the SP Rawal was directed to investigate those previously involved in celebratory firing.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2019