RAWALPINDI: A police official was apprehended on Friday after he reportedly fired two rounds on a car at a police checkpoint in the New Town area, leaving one of the occupants critically injured who has been struggling for his life in the Holy Family Hospital.

The injured Haider Ali, 26, was shifted to hospital with bullet injuries by Rescue 1122 staff instead of the police, who came close to the car, but left him bleeding in his car.

Aitzazul Hassan, elder brother of the injured, told Dawn that his brother, who had been in Saudi Arabia in connection with job, came to Pakistan due to his father’s illness. He said his brother was sitting on the front seat of the car which was driven by his friend when the police signaled him to stop.

He said before the car was stopped, the police fired gunshots which left his brother badly injured. The doctors have described his condition as critical.

“After the car was stopped, the police surrounded the vehicle. As they opened the door they saw his brother was bleeding. Instead of helping him, the police shut the door and left the scene,” Aitzaz said and added: “His brother‘s condition would have been different, had he been shifted to hospital as soon as possible by the police.”

Aitzaz ul Hassan, a resident of Dhoke Paracha lodged an FIR with the New Town police saying that he was at home when he received a phone call that his younger brother Haider Ali was lying injured in his car in Gulshan Dadan Khan on Thursday night.

He said when the police fired gunshots at them, Omer Fazal who was driving the car, took them to the Gulshan Dadan Khan road and was shifted to the hospital by the emergency service staff, who were called by the neighbours.

After the incident came to light, the City Police Officer Sajid Kiani ordered the police official’s arrest after registration of an FIR against him.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2022