TTP Claims killing of Senior Session judge Rawalpindi Tahir Khan Niazi Rawalpindi; By Asghar Ali Mubarak

TTP Claims killing of Senior Session judge Rawalpindi Tahir Khan Niazi 

Rawalpindi;

By Asghar Ali Mubarak

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan<TTP> on Thursday claimed credit for killing a Sessions court judge in Rawalpindi, the insurgent group said in a statement, the latest in a series of attacks on civilians working for the criminal justice system. “Our special task force has targeted additional session judge Tahir Khan Niazi in Rawalpindi successfully,” Taliban spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani said in an emailed statement. He did not say why Niazi was targeted. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people, is plagued by criminal gangs, sectarian militants and a Taliban insurgency. Threats and attacks on civilian judges and lawyers prompted the government to set up secret military courts in February to try militant suspects, following a Taliban massacre of 134 children at an army-run school last December. The government says militants usually walk free because civilians are too scared to convict them. Lawyers and judges agree security is a problem, but they also complain of outdated laws, poorly trained and poorly paid police, and political interference. According to police officials the Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Khan Niazi, who hails from Mianwali, was attacked by unidentified men at around 1:30pm at his residence in Sadiqabad Rawalpindi. Following the shooting, Niazi was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Later, the body was taken to District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi said three unidentified attackers entered the judge’s house and opened fire, adding they later escaped on a motorcycle. “A bullet hit the judge in the ribs and ultimately resulted in his death,” he said.

Unidentified motorcyclists shot dead Additional District and Session Judge Rawalpindi Mr. Tahir Khan Niazi in Sadiqabad Rawalpindi, media reported on other day.

According to media, the assailants opened fire on the vehicle of the judge as he was leaving his Judges Colony residence in Sadiqabad area of Rawalpindi. The criminals managed to escape from the scene after the attack.

The deceased was shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds during treatment. Hospital sources said that the judge had died due to excessive bleeding.

Rescue and security personnel personnel reached the site of attack. Policemen cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went underway.

A large number of lawyers had gathered outside the hospital after receiving the news of the judge’s death.His body was shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for a postmortem.