ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Sikandar, the armed man who held Islamabad hostage for five hours in a dramatic standoff on Thursday, had been associated with a banned outfit, investigators revealed on Friday.
The 51-year-old man is under treatment in Islamabad’s PIMS hospital where doctors say the gunman was on ventilation after being operated for four hours. He has received three bullets, one each in leg, chest and abdomen.
Islamabad police registered a case against him at Kohsar police station Friday under Section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Sikandar’s wife Kanwal was also named in the FIR. Doctors said she was in consciousness and her condition is out of danger.
Investigations until now have revealed that Sikandar was born in Qazi Pura area of Punjab’s Hafizabad district.
He was owner of a shop of aluminium and had two wives. First one was from Dubai and the second one, Kanwal, who played her role in Thursday’s standoff, had been living with him in Hafizabad.
He had two children – son Abdullah and daughter Farwa – from Kanwal and a son from his Dubai-based wife.
Officials said Sikandar had also lived in Dubai for many years.
Sources said police raided his house in Hafizabad and recovered photographs, copies of identity card along with passport and other documents.
According to locals, the gunman was a drug addict and also affiliated with a banned outfit. His wife also verified the facts in her statement.
Last night, police shot him injured and finally arrested him after he opened fire in Jinnah Avenue‚ Blue area of Islamabad and created a serious and sensational situation in the federal capital for over five hours.
The gunman was accompanied by his wife and two children who have been now in police custody.
Police finally took action against him when a PPP leader‚ Zamurad Khan‚ reached there and pretending to meet children of the culprit‚ tried to grapple him.
The gunman opened fire but was immediately attacked and overpowered by police. However‚ he received two bullets. Khan remained safe‚ but two police personnel and Sikandar’s wife were injured.
Police tried to negotiate with him, but all in vain.
