PAF officer who sacrificed his life saving woman in distress laid to rest with military honours: ISPR

Lead

Group Captain Asim Tariq of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), who died after intervening to save a woman from an alleged abduction attempt in Islamabad, was laid to rest with full military honours on Tuesday, the military's media wing said.

Funeral prayers for the group captain were held, with the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stating he was buried with "full military honours in recognition of his exceptional courage, selfless devotion and unwavering sense of duty."

PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, along with senior officers, airmen and a large gathering of civil society members, attended the prayers and paid "final respects to the valiant officer and honoured his supreme sacrifice," according to ISPR.

Coverage comparison

Dawn reported extensively on the incident, first detailing the tributes from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, and later reporting the funeral details. The two reports both describe the incident's location and the quick arrest of the suspect.

In its first report, Dawn highlighted the prime minister's and president's reaction to the killing, quoting both leaders as they condemned the attack and praised the officer's bravery. The second report focused on the funeral and the military's statements.

Key Claims

• Group Captain Asim Tariq lost his life while intervening in an incident involving a woman in the Margalla police station area of Islamabad, near Air University and opposite Bahria University.

• According to police details, Tariq was on his way to Rawalpindi for an official assignment when he saw a man forcefully pulling a woman toward his bike. He took a U-turn and stopped near the bike. As he intervened, the woman approached his vehicle, ostensibly for safety. Police said the suspect first argued with the PAF officer and then opened fire on him.

• Inspector General of Police Islamabad Ali Nasir Rizvi said at a press conference on Sunday night that the suspect was arrested within nine hours of the incident. He said the woman and the suspect worked at a cash and carry outlet in G-6, and the suspect sometimes picked her up and dropped her off. After picking her up on Sunday, the suspect wanted to take the woman to a park or somewhere, the police chief said.

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the officer, saying he laid down his life to "protect the life and dignity of a woman, setting an unparalleled example of courage and devotion to duty," as reported by state broadcaster PTV. The prime minister added: "The nation will always honour and respect the sacrifices of such brave sons." He directed authorities to conduct a complete and transparent investigation and to ensure those responsible are punished strictly in accordance with the law.

• President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement from the President's House, said sacrificing one's life to protect an innocent woman was an example of the highest human values and service to the nation. He added that such an incident on a major road in Islamabad was a matter of serious concern and stressed the need to prevent future incidents.

• Both the president and the prime minister offered their condolences to the officer's family.

• PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, as quoted by ISPR, said the sacrifice "epitomises the finest traditions of the PAF and the Armed Forces of Pakistan." He also noted that through his sacrifice, the officer demonstrated that "men and women of the PAF remain steadfast in their commitment not only to safeguarding the nation's frontiers, but also to protecting the lives, dignity and honour of their fellow countrymen."