ISLAMABAD: A suspect was killed during an encounter with the police early on Saturday while his accomplice escaped, police claimed.

A police spokesman said the suspect killed in the encounter was a notorious drug peddler and involved in martyring constable Mohammad Aqib. He claimed that the suspect died from a bullet fired by his accomplice.

Earlier, the police mounted surveillance and established a picket at Jagiot Road to arrest culprits involved in the killing of the constable, he said. Two persons on a motorcycle appeared there and on suspicion the police signaled them to stop.

However, the motorcycle riders opened indiscriminate firing at the police. Fortunately, the policemen remained unhurt.

One of the suspects was killed during cross firing and the other escaped, he said. The police also recovered a pistol from the suspect.

Over the incident, a case was registered at the Shahzad Town police station.

According to the FIR, the police received information that culprits wanted in the murder case of the constable might be passing through Jagiot Road at night.

In response, the station house officer (SHO) of Shahzad Town along with seven policemen reached Jigiot Road. According to the FIR, there was no encounter between the police and the culprits as claimed by the spokesman. However, it said the police did fire in the air.

After the firing, the police found a man lying there who was killed from a bullet fired by his accomplice, the FIR added.

Sources in the police said the suspect killed in the encounter had shot dead constable Aqib in a shoot-out with police at Tarlai Kalan on April 20. After the incident, the police conducted a search operation in which some suspects were picked up, including the man who was killed on Saturday, they added.

When contacted by Dawn, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Mohammad Faisal said this was not true.

Another police officer said the capital witnessed occasional encounters and shoot-outs between police and robbers/suspects. So far this year, 19 such incidents have occurred.

These incidents took place at Jhangi Syedan and G12 on January 7, I-15/1 and Ratti Kassi Tarnol on January 9, Pindorian on January 18, I-11/1 on January 21, H-9 on January 26, G-14 on January 27, Koral on January 29, E-16/2 on February 4, G-11 on February 13, Khanna on February 16, Margalla Town February 16, Heeran Mira on February 20, Dhoke Kashmirian on March 14, G-13 on March 15, Ghauri Town on March 25, Tarlai Kalan on April 20, he said.

According to the FIRs registered over these encounter/shoot-outs, one policeman was martyred and two policemen were injured from the firing of robbers. Two culprits were killed and 22 others injured in these incidents from bullets fired by their accomplices in all incidents.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2022