SAHIWAL: District Police Officer (DPO) Rana Tahir suspended six police officials on Sunday for negligence in their security duties at the district cour on Saturdayt, which led to the fatal shooting of a youth in an alleged honour killing.

The alleged attacker, Zeeshan, was arrested along with his weapon by police when he attempted to shoot his sister, Muafia, who had contracted a love marriage with Tanooq.

Those suspended include Inspector Aftab Ahmed, ASIs Sharafat Ali and Muhammad Idrees, Head Constable Muhammad Irfan, and Constables Tahir Sadiq and Nasir Ali. Ironically, Constable Tahir, who had captured Zeeshan, is among the suspended cops.

Tanooq, of Usman Block, village 92/6-R, had solemnised a love marriage with Muafia, from the same village, and registered it with the EPISCOPAL Church Pakistan under the Christian Marriage Act 1872 on Jan 10 in Mian Channu, Khanewal. Muafia’s family filed a kidnapping case against Tanooq, his sister and his father, Gulzar Maseeh, at Farid Town Police Station on Jan 18. Tanooq sought pre-arrest bail in the family court.

On Saturday, as Tanooq arrived at the district court with his father, sister, and wife, Zeeshan, Muafia’s brother, opened fire, killing him on the spot.

Civil Line Police have registered a murder case against Zeeshan, his father Aslam, his wife Kawita, and Kishwar on the complaint of the deceased’s father, Gulzar Maseeh.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025