May 27, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1428

ISLAMABAD, May 26: An under-trial prisoner was shot dead by his rival in the district courts compound here on Saturday as police was taking him back to jail after his appearance in a court.

Police went into action after the murderer had pumped three bullets into the chest of prisoner Saad Ibrar, 32.

The murderer was identified as Hidayatullah and belonged to Swabi, NWFP, as did his victim.

Ibrar was arrested a year ago and was being tried in the court of additional sessions judge Manzoor Mirza on narcotics charges under Customs Act.

People swarming the place on business were horrified that an armed man with murder on his mind mingled among them unchecked and could actually use his weapon in spite of the presence of some 50 policemen who were guarding the offices of senior police and administrative officers situated in the compound.

Ibrar’s sister Rehana Kausar who had come to see him on the occasion but saw him being bathed in blood.

She returned to their native town with his body.

The bullets fired at him cut down not just Ibrar’s life but also the family’s lineage.

He was the last surviving male member in the family. His brother was killed by their rivals a few years ago while their father had met a natural death, according to police.

Police said the families of Ibrar and Hidayatullah had a blood feud.

Hadayatullah claimed that Ibrar, along with some accomplices, had killed his brother Mohammad Nazar two years ago.

But Ibrar’s family accused the other side of starting the blood feud by killing first.

The police registered a murder case on the complaint of Ms Kousar and the body of Ibrar was handed over to the family after completing the legal process at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.