SP Adeel Akbar’s death under investigation, says Captial Police

ISLAMABAD: Funeral prayers for Superintendent of Police (SP) Industrial Area Islamabad, Adeel Akbar, were offered at the Islamabad Police Headquarters on Thursday. The funeral was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Inspector General of Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, senior officers, and a large number of police personnel. After the funeral, Adeel Akbar’s body was sent to his hometown for burial.

According to a statement issued by the police spokesperson, SP Adeel Akbar was traveling from Constitution Avenue to his office when he sustained a fatal gunshot wound inside his official vehicle.

His post-mortem was conducted at PIMS Hospital, where Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, IGP Rizvi, and several senior police officials were also present.

Speaking to journalists at the hospital, Talal Chaudhry said that SP Adeel Akbar was one of the top officers of his batch and a highly capable officer who had been brought to Islamabad on the requisition of the federal interior minister. He confirmed that investigations into the incident were underway and that the government was in touch with the officer’s family.

Responding to a question from Pakistan Narrative regarding Adeel Akbar’s reported dengue infection, shortage of police personnel in Islamabad, and psychological assessments of officers, the minister said that all police officers undergo complete medical and psychological testing before appointment. He added that the government provides the best facilities to Islamabad Police personnel, including leave and healthcare benefits.

“Islamabad is a desired posting for many officers, and they are provided with all necessary facilities. Adeel Akbar was a competent officer who was brought from Balochistan to Islamabad on merit,” Talal Chaudhry said.

Inspector General of Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi told reporters that investigations were being carried out by all three DIGs of Islamabad. “SP Adeel had spoken to us over the phone earlier. So far, there is no evidence suggesting that a phone call triggered the incident,” he said, adding that Adeel’s mobile phone was locked and that work to access it was underway.

“The incident occurred inside the vehicle. Safe City footage has been obtained, and staff who were present in the car are being questioned. The police are investigating all aspects, and no final conclusion can be drawn until the inquiry is complete,” Rizvi added.

Sources told Pakistan Narrative that SP Adeel Akbar was near a checkpoint in Islamabad’s Red Zone when he allegedly received a phone call. During the conversation, he became visibly upset and, after ending the call, reportedly took a gun from his guard and shot himself. He was critically injured and rushed to the hospital by his staff but could not survive.

Before his posting in Islamabad, Adeel Akbar served in Balochistan. He was an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from the 46th Common of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) and had been serving as SP Industrial Area for the past one and a half months.

Sources further revealed that Adeel Akbar had been diagnosed with dengue a day earlier but continued performing his duties. They added that he had been suffering from severe stress over a delayed promotion, as all his batchmates had been promoted to the rank of SP last year, while his promotion had been deferred to the next board.

Prior to joining the police, Adeel was part of the OMG (43rd Common) and later requalified through the CSS exam to join the PSP group. He had also worked as a researcher in the National Assembly before joining the civil service.

Recently, Adeel was offered a scholarship under the Fulbright Master’s Program and had applied for departmental leave, which had not yet been approved.