PPP leaders named in Gujrat murders

Published October 29, 2001

GUJRAT, Oct 28: A-division police have registered a case under sections 302, 324, 148, 149, 109 against 10 people, including two politicians belonging to the PPP, in Saturday’s ambush that left three people dead and Tehsil Nazim Ghulam Sarwar Bhooch injured.

The Nazim’s vehicle was waylaid by gunmen near GTS Chowk on Sargodha Road. The dead include Bhooch’s driver, a guard and one of the assailants who was hit by bullets reportedly fired by his own accomplices.

The indiscriminate fire also left a dozen passers-by inured.

Police registered the case against seven nominated and three unidentified persons on the complaint of the nazim. The seven were identified as former PPP MPA and runner-up candidate for Gujrat district nazim slot Nawabzada Muzaffar Ali Khan, Nawabzada Tahirul Mulk of PPP, Asif Raza, PO Shahzad Zafar, Pervaiz Riasat Ali and PO Ihsan who died due to the firing of his accomplices.

The complainant was quoted as saying in the first interrogation report (FIR) that he, along with his driver and guard, was coming back after holding an open court when Asif Raza, Shahzad Zafar, Ihsan and two unknown outlaws riding on a car (LEZ 9937) intercepted his vehicle near Kunjah intersection.

He said that outlaws resorted to firing on his car, killing driver Farhat Shah and gunman Sher Muhammad.

In the meantime, occupants of another car having no registration plate also aimed at his vehicle. “Their shots missed me but hit one of their accomplices sitting in the first vehicle,” he said.

The motive behind the attack was said to be an old enmity between Bhooch and Abid Raza groups of Kotla Arab Ali Khan.

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