Police had arrested a 20-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer who intervened to help a woman during an alleged abduction attempt in Islamabad, police and security sources said on Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Saad Abbasi, was arrested in the Khanna police station area of the capital with the assistance of law enforcement agencies, police sources said. He was later shifted to an undisclosed location for questioning, and the investigation is ongoing.

Police sources said the suspect is a resident of Khanna Road within the jurisdiction of Khanna police station. He has a matriculation-level education and had been working as a salesman at an electronics shop.

According to police, Group Captain Asim Tariq was driving near Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue when he saw a man allegedly trying to force a woman onto a motorcycle. The officer stopped his vehicle and intervened after the woman called for help.

The woman moved toward the officer for protection, after which the suspect allegedly argued with him and opened fire, fatally wounding the PAF officer before fleeing with accomplices, police said.

During initial questioning, the woman told investigators the suspect, whom she identified as a colleague, had offered her a lift but allegedly diverted the route and attempted to take her to another location against her will, prompting her to resist.

Police said the suspect is being questioned and that investigators are continuing to examine all aspects of the case, including whether others were involved.

Group Captain Asim Tariq is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. His killing prompted an outpouring of tributes across Pakistan, with many describing him as a courageous officer who was martyred while trying to protect a woman.