Relatives protest against murder

LAHORE

Dozens of relatives, family members and neighbours of a victim, who was killed in shootout between two groups in Samanabad, protested against police at Qurtaba Chowk on Saturday.

They placed the body of deceased Safdar on road and chanted slogans against police. They also demanded immediate arrest of the suspects.

The protesters blocked road for every kind of traffic that caused massive traffic jam on Ferozpur Road, Queens Road, Jail Road, Lawrence Road and Canal Road.

Following the news of protest, CCPO Capt. (r) Amin Wains reached the spot and held negotiations with protestors. He assured them of justice on which protestors ended their protest and dispersed after two hours.

Victim Safdar was shot dead during a clash between two rival groups in Gulzaib Colony of Samanabad. The rival groups had developed enmity during the Local Government elections on the distribution of tickets for chairmanship.

On the day of incident, two persons Iqbal and Mudassar went to the house of Chaudhary Salim in Gulzaib Colony, exchanged some harsh words with them that led to exchange of firing. As a result, Mudassar and Iqbal received bullet-injuries in their legs.

The injured called other accomplices who reached for their help. They opened indiscriminate fir at the house of Chaudhry Salim. As a result, Safdar and Bahadar, nephews of Chaudhry Salim, received bullet-injuries.

They and other injured persons were shifted to nearby hospital where doctors pronounced Safdar as brought dead. Police removed the body to morgue for autopsy and registered an FIR No. 64/15 against suspects Waqar Chota Gujjar, Salman, Hassan Butt and Majid Chaudhry.

Police said they were conducting raids for the arrest of the suspects. Condition of victim Bahadar was stated to be critical.   

Meanwhile, an LTC bus stuck under Shadman underpass that also added woes to the commuters. Police said bus driver drove the bus to the underpass due to rush on road. The bus was pulled out by deflating air of tires of the bus. Police arrested the driver and impounded the bus.

Traffic remained stuck at almost every main road of the city for about two hours. The City Traffic Police deployed extra traffic wardens on the roads leading to the protest and Shadman underpass. The wardens set diversions and stood at intersections to control the traffic.