Pakistan’s air force group captain Asim Tariq was shot dead in broad daylight in Islamabad after he stepped in to protect a woman during an alleged abduction attempt, local reports said.

Police said the incident took place near Shaheen Chowk on Islamabad’s busy 9th Avenue, in the jurisdiction of the Margalla Police Station. Officers said Tariq noticed a man arguing with a woman as she got off a motorcycle and moved to stop the attack, giving her time to escape to the other side of the road.

Police said the suspect—identified as Saad (also reported as Saad Abbasi)—allegedly abused the officer and then opened fire. Tariq suffered critical injuries and died at the scene as the attacker fled.

In updates following the shooting, Islamabad police reported that they launched a major investigation, using CCTV, technical surveillance and raids, and arrested the suspect within hours. Police also said the woman, identified as Nimra, was taken into custody for questioning, and that Tariq was survived by his widow and two children.