An FIR in the murder of judge Aftab Afridi, an anti-terrorism court judge in Swabi, his wife, and two children was registered at the Chota Lahore police station Monday morning.
Justice Afridi was en route to Islamabad along with his family Sunday night when his car came under attack near the Anbar interchange, Swabi District Police Officer Mohammad Shoaib said. The victim’s guard and driver sustained injuries.
A complaint of the attack against seven suspects–including Supreme Court Bar Association President Abdul Lateef Afridi, his son Danish Afridi, Muhammad Shafiq, Abid, Jameel, Jamal–has been registered by the deceased judge’s son. According to the FIR, the suspects committed the crime in enmity over a murder case.
DPO Shoaib said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Peshawar police have formed a joint operation team to investigate the case. Five people have been arrested and are being questioned.
“The suspects will be identified by the victim’s son,” the officer said, adding that two cars used in the attack have been impounded.
Justice Afridi was posted at a Swat anti-terrorism court two months ago. The Swat Bar Council announced a protest against his killing on Monday.
Afridi denies charges
The Supreme Court Bar Association has demanded the removal of the names of its president and his son from the FIR. It said that they have been “falsely implicated” in the case.
Afridi has “sternly denied his and his son’s involvement in the matter”, said a press release issued on Monday. Afridi was busy with family on Sunday and he visited his agricultural land for plantation.
He condemned the killing and said that “attacking women/children is utterly against the Pashtun traditions and cultural norms”.
PM condemns attack
The attack was condemned by Prime Minister Imran Khan. “The perpetrators of this gruesome act will be apprehended and dealt with the full severity of the law,” he said in a tweet.
Kamran Bangash, the KP chief minister’s aide on information, promised that CM Mehmood Khan will himself monitor the investigation.
