TAXILA: An alleged fugitive, wanted in around a dozen murder cases across Punjab, including the killing of law enforcement officials, was reportedly killed in a police encounter with the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) in Taxila during the early hours of Sunday. According to a CCD spokesperson, his accomplice managed to escape during the shootout.

He said the suspect, identified as Amir Shah, had a long criminal history and was wanted in multiple murder cases. According to CCD officials, Amir was known for his “brutal methods, often carried out under the influence of crystal meth”.

The spokesperson said the fugitive was among the most-wanted criminals in Punjab and had posed a major challenge for law enforcement agencies. He was wanted in more than a dozen murder cases, including the killing of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officers in Jhelum, a triple murder in Jatli, Rawalpindi, and another triple murder in Sargodha.

The encounter took place after the CCD team received intelligence that Amir Shah and his associate were present in Taxila. When police attempted to intercept the motorcycle-riding suspects, they opened fire. In retaliatory firing, Amir Shah was killed on the spot, while his accomplice escaped.

Senior police officials reached the scene soon after the incident, and a search operation was launched in the area to apprehend the fugitive.

City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani praised the bravery of the CCD regional officer and his team, stating that they fulfilled their duty despite heavy firing from the suspects.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2025