Two arrested over shooting of senior doctor in Pakistan’s Peshawar

Police in Pakistan have arrested two suspects in connection with the attempted murder of a senior medical officer who was critically wounded in a gun attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, officials said on Sunday.

Dr. Mian Saeed, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), said police had solved the case involving senior urologist Dr. Asif Malik, who was attacked in the University Town area, after tracing and arresting the suspects.

He said those detained include the main suspect, Sultan Raza Jan, and his driver, Shafaat Hussain. Both were apprehended in Kohat district.

CCPO Saeed added that police had recovered the vehicle and weapon used in the crime and that further investigations were under way.

“During initial interrogation, the suspects disclosed that the attack was driven by a financial dispute with Dr. Asif,” he said.

Police officials said Safe City surveillance cameras played a key role in identifying and tracking the suspects, allowing authorities to trace both the vehicle and the individuals involved.

“The special investigation team carried out a detailed probe using the CCTV footage,” officials added.

According to police, unidentified assailants opened fire on March 31 as Dr Asif Malik was returning home from his clinic, leaving him with multiple gunshot wounds and in critical condition.

A case was registered at Town Police Station on a complaint filed by his son, Yusuf Malik, after which authorities formed a special investigation team to investigate the attack.

Dr. Asif is the brother of former provincial police chief Malik Naveed and senior police officer Malik Saad, who was killed in a suicide attack in Peshawar in 2007.

Malik Asad, a former mayor of Kohat district and another brother of Malik Saad, was also killed by unidentified assailants last April.