The mysterious gunman who held Islamabad police captivated for over five hours on Thursday was finally taken in custody by security personnel, but only after some valorous heroics from Pakistan People’s Party leader Zamurrad Khan. Sikander, the gunman demanding implementation of an Islamic system in Pakistan,
something he believed was possible by morning, was nabbed after he stumbled trying to escape a brazen attempt by the PPP leader to overpower him and take away the gunman’s weapons. Sikander is now in police custody. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had given orders for him to be taken alive. Just before evening, the armed man opened fire at police in the heavily-manned heart of Islamabad after slipping past the capital's many checkpoints. The gunman, onboard the vehicle with his wife and two kids, drove his vehicle into the centre of Islamabad, stopping only a stone's throw away from the president's official residence and fired several rounds in the air. Sikander had two assault rifles in his possession that he openly wielded in the capital’s Red Zone with impunity for hours. “I am against vulgarity and immorality. My associates have taken up positions in the whole of Pakistan,” he told a local TV channel. “I have visited all parts of Pakistan and have been saddened by the state of the people.” Hundreds of onlookers gathered at the central Jinnah Avenue as night fell and periodic gunshots rang out in the air. He seemed confused in his demands, and it was unclear how he managed to paralyse the city centre and cause a standoff with police, including anti-terrorist units. Security has been tight in Islamabad after police received an alert about possible attacks by militants operating from the Tribal Areas. Many senior police officials, including SSP Dr Rizwan were present at the scene to control the situation and persuade the man to surrender peacefully. Dr Rizwan made several attempts to talk Sikander out of his antics, but to no avail. The gunman sat comfortably in his car parked in the centre of the main road, often resorting to smoking, while his two children played in and around the car and his wife acted as the messenger between Sikander and the police. Police and Rangers cordoned off the area, while four snipers were also deployed to take action when needed. The gunman made some ambiguous demands during negotiations with SSP Dr Rizwan. He demanded end of the current governance system and its replacement with an Islamic system. He also demanded a safe exit and protection for his family. He demanded the presence of at least five senior police officials for further talks, besides claiming that he was doing all for Islam. One of his demands also included the release of his son from prison in Dubai. Sikandar is a resident of Mohala Qazipura in Hafizabad district of Punjab. His wife’s name is Kanwal and her children’s names are Abdullah and Farwa. People in Sikandar’s neighbourhood in Hafizabad said he was a drug addict and had another wife, Hania, in Dubai. The neighbours said Sikandar was a man of strange conduct and did not carry a good reputation in the locality. - See more at: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/08/16/news/national/zamurad-khans-heroics-save-the-day/#sthash.Qa5gP6wz.dpuf
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