“Shaheen Chowk” is trending on X because of the fatal shooting of Group Captain Asim Tariq, a serving Pakistan Air Force officer who was killed while intervening in what police describe as an attempt to protect a woman during an altercation near Shaheen Chowk on Ninth Avenue in Islamabad. The incident has generated widespread public grief and praise for the officer’s actions.
According to Islamabad Police:
Group Captain Asim Tariq was driving near Shaheen Chowk when he noticed a man allegedly trying to force a woman to accompany him.
He stopped to intervene after seeing the woman in distress.
The woman moved behind the officer’s vehicle for protection.
The suspect, identified by police as Saad Abbasi, allegedly argued with the officer before opening fire, fatally wounding him.
The suspect fled but was arrested within about nine hours following a police operation that used CCTV footage, Safe City cameras, and other investigative methods.
Reports indicate that Group Captain Asim Tariq (12204 GDP) of the Pakistan Air Force's Intelligence Directorate was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen near Shaheen Chowk in Islamabad, Pakistan. Further details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/uIJQWtLJ6h
— SILENT BRIEF (@SilentBriefHQ) July 5, 2026
Police said the woman, identified as Nimra, told investigators that she and the suspect were colleagues. She alleged that he had offered her a ride but changed the route and tried to take her somewhere else against her wishes, leading to the confrontation.
Some social media posts also claim the woman worked at Islamabad Cash & Carry in G-6 and that the suspect worked for Dawn Bread. However, those employment details have not been consistently confirmed by official police statements or all media reports, so they should be treated cautiously. Different reports describe their workplaces differently.
The incident has become a top trend because many users are honoring Group Captain Asim Tariq’s courage, describing him as someone who lost his life while trying to protect a woman. At the same time, people are discussing public safety, violence against women, and the misuse of firearms, while calling for swift justice in the case.
