TTP claims responsibility for killing of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain, disputes police account

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the killing of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq in Islamabad on Sunday afternoon, while also releasing video footage that it says contradicts the police version of events. Authorities have arrested the suspected gunman, identified as Saad Abbasi (22), and charged him under murder and terrorism laws.

In a statement, the TTP said its "Special Target Killers Unit" carried out the shooting.

The group also circulated mobile phone and CCTV footage on social media showing the slain officer seated inside his car, wearing a seat belt. According to the TTP, the footage disputes the Islamabad police's account that Tariq was killed while trying to rescue a woman from an alleged abduction attempt.

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Reportedly Tariq was attached to the intelligence directorate that recently provided the coordinates for a drone strike in Afghanistan which allegedly resulted in the deaths of a large number of children and women. They also said he was involved in the failed "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos", which Pakistan launched in retaliation for Operation Sindoor.

Police arrest suspect

Islamabad police registered a case against Saad Abbasi under murder and terrorism charges.

According to media reports, Abbasi was produced before an anti-terrorism court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Earlier, Islamabad police told reporters that Group Captain Asim Tariq was shot dead after intervening to rescue a woman during an alleged abduction attempt.

Police said the officer stepped in to stop the attack, allowing the woman to escape across the road. During the confrontation, the alleged gunman reportedly abused the officer before opening fire, fatally injuring him at the scene.

However, CCTV footage released by pro-TTP social media accounts allegedly shows a woman riding on the motorcycle with the accused, contradicting the police's version of events.