GUJRAT: A passerby was shot dead and at least 10 others injured during an armed clash between two rival groups over a property dispute at Sahaba Chowk in Kunjah Town late on Tuesday night.

After the incident, police have booked at least 18 nominated and six unidentified suspects.

Hafiz Aqeel, the personal secretary to federal minister Chaudhry Salik Husain of the PML-Q, and Kunjah Municipal Committee (MC) former chairman Rana Hassan Maqsood are also among the nominated suspects.

Salik’s aide nominated in the case

As per local sources, Mirza Ihsan group and Sheikh Shahbaz group had been parties to a property dispute in Kunjah and a litigation was going on between them over the issue.

On Tuesday night, a clash occurred between one Kamran, a close friend of Shahbaz, and some men belonging to Ihsan group. During the clash, armed men of Ihsan group allegedly opened fire on the rival party.

As a result, a passerby, identified as Qasim, was hit by a bullet and died on the spot, whereas 10 other persons were injured in the firing.

The injured were identified as Khurram Latif, Kamran Muneer, Umer Nazir, Anas Shakeel, Mirza Toheed, Nabeel Bashir, Shanawar Shakeel, Shahid Bashir, Aurengzeb and Shehroz, all residents of the same area. On being informed of the incident, police and Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) teams reached the scene and collected Forensic evidence from there.

The deceased and the injured persons were shifted to the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH). The condition of the injured persons, who sustained bullet injuries to their legs, is said to be out of danger, as per the hospital sources.

The body of the deceased man was handed over to his family members after an autopsy conducted at the ABSTH on Wednesday. Police have registered a case against 24 suspects under sections 302, 324, 148, 149 and 109 of Pakistan Penal Code on the report of Yasir Mirza, who was also among the injured men, and started investigation. No arrest could be made so far.

As per police sources, the ex-chairman of Kunjah MC Rana Hassan, Hafiz Aqeel and another man have been nominated by the complainant under section 109 of the PPC, alleging the attack was orchestrated at their behest.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2024