ISLAMABAD: A nine-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been constituted to investigate the terrorist attack on a police team that left two officials dead on May 26.

Officials said the team was constituted by Chief Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ahmed Ali in response to a request made by the capital police.

The senior superintendent of police (SSP) Counter-Terrorism Department will head the JIT as chairman while SP Saddar, DSP CIA, subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Saddar, station house officers Tarnol and CTD and representatives of intelligence agencies are the members.

ASI Mohammad Mohsin Zafar and head constable Sajid Ahmed were gunned down at Chungi No 26 in Tarnol by four terrorists on Tuesday night.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), a JIT should be constituted by the chief commissioner and headed by an officer of the police not below the rank of a superintendent. The JIT should include representatives from intelligence agencies.

Separate teams may also be constituted to assist the JIT in the investigation.

Shortly after the incident, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar Khan constituted two teams, each headed by the SP investigation and the SP Saddar Zone, under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Waqaruddin Syed.

When contacted, DIG Syed said the teams already constituted under his supervision, each headed by the SP investigation and the SP Saddar, will assist the JIT with technical and intelligence support.

Initially, the police were confused over the nature of the crime, either it was terrorism or an act of criminals, police officials said.

However, the DIG got convinced that it was terrorism and the case was then registered at the CTD police station under 7-ATA along with section 302, 353 and 186 of Pakistan Penal Code.