ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has conveyed to the Islamabad HighCourt (IHC) that the mysterious death of Group Captain Rizwan Attique wassuicide.

In response to a petition filed by Attique’s widow, Tanzeela Khan, PAF’sdirector legal service Sohail Ahmed stated that the woman’s husband hadcommitted suicide as he feared the consequences of an inquiry into hisalleged corruption.

Giving a detailed background of the events before the death of the officer,the written reply stated: “During his service, the petitioner’s husbandbecame involved in embezzlement, misappropriation, malpractices andcollusion with various civilian contractors against service interest.Consequently, a Board of Inquiry was ordered at the Air Headquarters,Islamabad, on July 5, 2017 to probe into his alleged illegal activities.

Written reply alleges that widow’s petition is aimed at maligning the force

“The deceased officer was provided VIP room at Officers Mess, Islamabad, toface the Board of Inquiry proceedings; the deceased officer was not takeninto Air Force custody. However, he was asked to remain present on thepremises of Officers Mess, Islamabad, during the Board of Inquiryproceedings.”

The reply further states: “The deceased officer committed suicide as aremorse for his involvement in misappropriation and as a fear for loss ofimage in society, which he had built for last many years.”

It said: “Group Captain Rizwan committed suicide. On July 10, 2017 he wasfound hanging from a window grille using bedsheet in his room at theOfficers Mess, Islamabad.

“He was immediately shifted to PAF Hospital where he was declared as‘brought dead’. Later, his body was shifted to Pakistan Institute ofMedical Sciences (Pims) for autopsy.”

The reply claimed that Pims confirmed that the officer had committed asuicide. The reply alleged that the petitioner filed the petition only tomalign the PAF.

Ms Khan was seeking transparent and impartial inquiry into the death of herhusband.