Abbottabad: A significant development has emerged in the murder case of Sardar Arif, a supervisor at Ayub Teaching Institution, as the court has cancelled the pre-arrest bail granted to the nominated accused, including a Sub-Inspector.
The victim’s family and paramedical staff have given authorities a 24-hour deadline for the immediate arrest of the suspects.
A hearing was held on Tuesday before the court of the Additional and Sessions Judge (VI) in connection with Sardar Arif’s killing, which allegedly involved police gunfire within the jurisdiction of Mirpur Police Station. During the proceedings, the pre-arrest bail of the nominated police personnel was cancelled after the accused failed to appear before the court.
Following the hearing, the victim’s family staged a protest outside the Abbottabad Press Club and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. The protest was attended by Malik Liaquat Awan, President of the Class-IV Paramedics Association, local elders and a large number of employees of the complex.
According to the allegations, Sardar Arif was killed in broad daylight on October 5 at his residence on Phul Gulab Road in the presence of his wife and son following a dispute with an Afghan neighbour.
The accused, identified as Sub-Inspector Ahsan and Gunner Hamza, allegedly opened indiscriminate fire. The source further alleges that the victim’s body was mistreated, with both legs allegedly broken before the body was taken to hospital.
After hospital staff identified the victim, a protest was held during which the Karakoram Highway was reportedly blocked from both sides for around five hours.
A case was subsequently registered at Mirpur Police Station under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The latest hearing was the third in the case. Following arguments from the lawyers, the court cancelled the pre-arrest bail of the nominated accused, who did not appear before the court.
After the hearing, the victim’s heirs protested outside the Abbottabad Press Club. They later met DPO Haroon Rashid after visiting the office of the DIG Hazara and conveyed their concerns. They were assured that the law would be allowed to take its course.