Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: A man from South Waziristan agency, who held his family hostage in a home located in Morgah area of Rawalpindi was arrested in injured condition by the law enforcement agencies on Saturday.

A man reportedly died and two constables sustained injuries after the Rawalpindi police conducted an operation and rescued a family taken hostage in the Morgah neighbourhood.

According to details, the hostages included his wife, children and in-laws. The 36-year-old suspect allegedly killed his father-in-law, besides injuring two others, including an elite police force official. Heavy contingents of police and rescue teams reached the site of the incident and controlled the situation.

Both the injured were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital where the elite force officer was stated to be in critical condition.

According to rescue sources, the man shot and injured his father-in-law, 50, and held the rest of his family hostage before the police succeeded in arresting the suspect.

The suspect, named Abdur Rahim, 36, is reported to be mentally challenged, according to police and neighbours. He is also a drug addict and works in construction. He owns construction machinery of around Rs 20 million. Relatives of the suspect said he lost his machinery due to gambling and held his family hostage to demand money.

Neighbours told police the suspect tried to commit suicide by jumping off the roof of the house the other day.

Police said around 20 people remained trapped in the house before the police operation, conducted with the cooperation of the elite force, ended the hostage situation. Two tear gas shells were also used in the operation.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi told the media that the manner in which the suspect was shooting suggested he was no ordinary resident, adding that he is a resident of South Waziristan Agency and well train armed person. CPO denied killing of anybody from the firing of the accused.

Published in Daily Times, December 31^st 2017.