• DC asked to remove encroachments from Islamabad’s nullahs by Aug 30, minister says
• Sheikh Rashid hopes court sentences Noor’s alleged killer to death

ISLAMABAD: A team from Kabul has arrived to investigate the ‘abduction’ of the daughter of Afghan ambassador in Pakistan, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference, the minister said the team would be allowed to interview all the concerned people, adding that he had instructed the inspector general of police to provide the investigation findings based on facts and truth to the visiting team.

Mr Ahmed said the police had completed the investigation and were fully prepared to answer any question of the Afghan investigators.

Replying to a question about the Afghan team’s freedom to operate, the interior minister said they would be free to conduct their probe. “Pakistan is a free country and they are in contact with the Foreign Office,” he added.

He said he had given a go-ahead to the police to share its investigation and footage with the Afghan team and provide access to over a dozen people — including the four taxi drivers. “If they want, they can interview them as well,” he added.

Ambassador Najibullah Alikhil’s 27-year-old daughter Silsila Alikhil was allegedly abducted briefly and tortured by unidentified persons last month while returning from a bakery in Blue Area before being dropped alongside a road.

The minister also said the suspect in the Noor Mukadam case could not be killed in a police encounter, adding that investigations were completed, forensic test carried out and all evidence provided to the court.

He hoped that the court would hand down death sentence to Zahir Jaffer, the alleged murderer of Noor.

The interior minister said he had instructed the deputy commissioner (DC) of Islamabad, Hamza Shafqaat, to remove all encroachments and illegal constructions from nullahs by Aug 30, adding that he would personally supervise the operations.

He clarified that the order was “only for nullahs” in order to remove constructions that blocked the flow of water. The minister’s comments come days after urban flooding wreaked havoc in Islamabad.

He said he had also instructed the Capital Development Authority chairman to secure the Diplomatic Enclave and install 190 security cameras.

About security in Muharram, Mr Ahmed said a meeting would be held on the issue on Thursday, however, the interior ministry had issued instructions to maintain peace during the month.

He also addressed the issue of officials serving for extended periods of time in foreign missions, saying that 64 individuals had been recalled and new appointments were being made. Addressing such individuals, the minister said if they did not return to the country and report to their offices by Aug 30, they would be suspended.

Speaking on the investigation in the Dasu dam incident, Mr Ahmed said it had progressed and “foolproof” security arrangements were being ensured for the Chinese nationals.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had no threat from the PML-N and the party was facing an internal rift.

“Their politics is finished. The damage to PML-N has been a result of its policies [...] They have no political future,” he added.

Responding to a question, the minister said Nadra was developing a system for Covid-19 certification, which would be linked with 64 countries.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2021