LAHORE, July 16: A young banker was shot dead by her husband on Monday at her Township workplace where one of her colleagues also came in the line of fire and got injured before the attacker apparently tried to commit suicide.

The incident also raises questions about workplace security, especially for women and police performance as the deceased banker had already informed the police about threat to her life.

The attacker, identified as Irfan Zaman of Peshawar, entered the branch of Bank Alfalah at Akbar Chowk and approached his target, his own wife Rabia aged 25-30, with a weapon after crossing three security layers unchecked.

Following an argument with his wife, who worked as a finance and credit officer at the bank, Zaman opened indiscriminate fire, injuring Rabia and one of her colleagues, Arshad (33). The attacker then shot himself in the temple.

The injured were rushed to Jinnah Hospital where Rabia of Mateen Avenue Housing Society, Sattokatla, succumbed to her wounds. Both Zaman and Arshad are said to be critical.

Township police inquiries showed that around six months ago Rabia’s Nikah took place with Zaman who initially told her that he was an officer of a sensitive agency. However, later he turned out to be a jobless fraudster.

On becoming aware of Zaman’s actual status, Rabia’s family moved a civil court for cancellation of her Nikah which annoyed Zaman who started hurling life threats to the victim. Rabia also got registered two cases against Zaman – one under Telegraph Act and the other for hurling life threats under relevant section of the PPC around three-and-a-half weeks ago. However, police failed to trace and arrest the suspect. Saddar operations SP Liaqat Ali Malik claimed that the deceased woman was provided two police constables for her security after she started receiving threatening calls from the accused. He said the constables would accompany Rabia from her home to office and vice versa, claiming the victim had requested temporary withdrawal of security two days ago.

He said the investigation police were neither provided call data of the suspect timely nor allowed to raid the suspect’s house in Peshawar due to procedural hurdles.

The SP claimed the Township SHO and his team visited the bank in routine in the morning, warned the administration of security lapses.

He said it was strange the suspect dodged three security tiers comprising six guards without being intercepted.