The accused who killed a policeman in Karachi’s Defence Phase V Monday night has managed to escape abroad, the police confirmed on Tuesday..

The police said that the suspect, Khurram Nisar, used a Swedish passport for immigration and departed for Sweden via Istanbul by an international flight.

The accused was trying to kidnap a woman in his car when the Shaheen Force man, Abdul Rehman, who was patrolling in the area, arrived there.

According to DIG South Irfan Baloch, the accused was a resident of Defense Phase V where he killed the policeman.

The police officials and an FIR registered after the death of the policeman stated that the motorist — who had returned from Sweden and is said to be the son of a former deputy commissioner — was trying to kidnap a woman.

The deceased, identified as Abdul Rehman, belonged to the Shaheen Force, SSP South Asad Raza said in a statement. Shaheen Force was formed in September to combat street crime. Members of the squad patrol areas with high incidence of street crimes.

Sources told Aaj News that the motorist was trying to kidnap a woman. The woman managed to escape when the Shaheen Force man, who was patrolling in the area, arrived there. Rehman wanted to take the suspect to the police station for investigation.

However, the demand led to an exchange of hot words between the suspect and the policeman, and the former fired at the latter from his pistol. CCTV footage showed that the driver ran away after this.

While the CCTV footage showed the shooting, another video captured a conversation between the two which is as followed:

Policeman: Why did you take out your gun?

Suspect: I have a licensed weapon. If I want to take it out, if I don’t want to take it out.

Policeman: Sit in the car and come.

Suspect: Tell me where to take you and I will go myself.

Then both come out of the car.

After the argument, the suspect fires at the policeman twice from close range.

The police said that other evidence are also being collected. They have claimed to raid the suspect’s house and seized the vehicle involved in the incident.

SSP South Raza said that three to four more guns have been recovered from the car which apparently includes the weapon used in the attack.

Raza said that the suspect recently returned from Sweden after studying there as per the initial information. “Search is under way for the accused who will be arrested soon,” he said.

Case registered

The first information report of the incident has been registered under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 302 (punishment of qatl-i-amd) of the Pakistan Penal Code and section (punishment for acts of terrorism) 7 of the ATA. The case has been registered at the Clifton police station.

The post-mortem of the body was carried out at the Jinnah hospital. Rahman was shot in the right side of the temple and a part of the bullet got stuck in his head.

The detailed statement of the martyred official’s fellow constable is also part of the FIR. “On November 21, my duty was with police constable Abdur Rehman,” Constable Aminul Haq said. They were patrolling in the jurisdiction of Darkhshan Police Station from 6pm to 2am.

“When we reached Khayabn-e-Shamsheer adjacent to 26th Street Signal, DHA Phase V at 11:30, a car passed by us at speed. We heard a woman’s scream from the vechile. On this, Abdur Rehman, who was riding the bike, chased the car,” he said.

The car was stopped in Clifton Block IV near Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine. “Rehman ran and sat in the car. In the confusion, the woman who this, the woman in the car ran away,” it said, adding that the car driver drove the car to the street on the left and from there turned right from the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Chowrangi and reached 26th Street where the Ideal Bakery is located.

There, the driver stopped the vehicle outside the offices of a real estate developer. Constable Amin arrived on his bike. There was a heated exchange between Rehman and the driver and they stepped out of the vehicle. It was at this point that the driver fired. Rehman also fired in “self defence” but the bullet from the driver hit Rehman on the right side of his head. He fell down while the driver got back in his car and fled the scene.

Amin says he can identify the driver.

Police raid suspect’s house

The police raided the house of the suspect and recorded his father Nisar Ahmed’s statement, DIG South Irfan Baloch said.

“Ahmed said that he is a former deputy commissioner. He is wheelchair-bound.” Baloch said.

“One brother of the suspect lives in Faisalabad,” he said. The Federal Investigation Agency has been informed about the suspect to ensure he does not leave the country.

The DIG South added that the suspect would soon be arrested.

Rehman’s funeral prayers would be offered at the Garden Police Headquarters at 5pm.

Soon to be married

One of eleven siblings, Rehman was set to tie the knot next month.

The slain cop’s family said that the preparations for his wedding were complete.

Relatives had started arriving to Karachi from the village for the December wedding.

Rehman’s father, who was out of town, also left for Karachi after being informed of his son’s murder.

More to follow