Islamabad: British - Pakistani barrister Fahad Malik was shot dead on 15th August in Islamabad close to the Prime Minister’s residence in front of many witnesses. Malik, a British national who did his bar at the Lincoln's Inn was practising law in Pakistan and leaves behind a widow Sakina Bukhari and two young children. Malik was shot by two men from a known gang while mediating between two quarrelling factions at a coffee shop despite installation of CCTV cameras.
Suspects named in local media as Raja Arshad and Nauman Khokar were granted bail. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has challenged Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to hand over the murder case to the Sindh Police. The Interior Minister and political leader Imran Khan visited Malik's house and promised to bring the killers to justice.
Malik is the nephew of ex-chairman of Senate Muhammad Mian Soomro and son-in-law of Syed Wajid Bukhari, who was Minister of Environment in Pervez Musharraf’s cabinet. A spokesperson for the family said: "this is a very dark day for us. It is also a very dark day for Pakistan when arrested killers can be released on bail and then allowed to disappear. We call on all authorities both Pakistan and British to do all they can to bring Fahad's murderers to justice".
Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi released the following statement:
I am deeply saddened by the senseless murder of British National Fahad Malik in Pakistan. Fahad Malik was a well-known and respected member of the UK Pakistani community and was tragically assassinated in the vicinity of a police station in Islamabad on Monday 15th August after mediating a dispute between two parties.
This murder of a British national is sadly indicative of the plague of killings and gang warfare which inflict casualties across Pakistan on a regular basis. This attack in the heart of the country’s capital, Islamabad, a city in which I have lived and I know well, is even more alarming. I welcome the commitment that both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan have given to this matter and urge them to continue to ensure that investigations are fully conducted to bring Fahad’s killers to justice.
Pakistan must show that the rule of law is not just written but is operational and is implemented for British Pakistanis who regularly travel to Pakistan for both work and pleasure. It is important that confidence in the police, army, security services and judiciary is maintained and the investigation, prosecution and conviction of Fahad Malik’s murderers will go some way to restoring that confidence.
My sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy is with Fahad Malik’s family especially his widow and two young children. They are in our thoughts and prayers.
