A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer was martyred on Sunday after intervening in an alleged attempt to assault a woman near Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue in Islamabad, police said.

A police official told APP that Group Captain Asim Tariq was driving through the area when he saw a man allegedly trying to force a woman onto a motorcycle. The officer stopped his vehicle and moved to intervene after the woman called for help.

The official said the woman moved toward the officer for protection, after which the suspect, identified as Saad, allegedly argued with Group Captain Asim Tariq and opened fire. The officer sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The suspect and his accomplices fled.

Police shifted the body to the Pakistan Air Force Hospital Unit-II. Officers from Margalla Police Station collected evidence and launched an investigation.

During initial questioning, the woman told investigators the suspect, a colleague, had offered her a lift but allegedly diverted the route and attempted to take her to another location against her will, leading to a struggle.

She said the PAF officer intervened and helped her before he was shot.

Police have launched a manhunt to arrest the fleeing suspect and his accomplices, while investigators are examining all aspects of the case and collecting further evidence.

Group Captain Asim Tariq is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. His death drew widespread tributes across the country, with many praising him as a courageous officer who died while trying to protect a woman.