LAHORE - A police officer and a murder suspect were killed in a brazen gun-attack in the premises of Sessions’ Court on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Another suspect was also wounded in the shooting which triggered panic in the courts during the peak hours. The attackers targeted both the handcuffed suspects, an eyewitness said.
As the suspects and policemen came out of the court-room after a hearing, two men who were waiting for them in the corridor opened straight fire on the suspects with pistols. The attackers also fired on the police when the officials tried to retaliate. The victims were shot multiple times. The attackers fled instantly after the shooting.
The murder suspect identified as Amjad Gujjar died on the spot. Head Constable Asif Iqbal was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced as brought dead. Earlier, the police produced both the suspects before a court in connection with a murder case registered against them three years ago.
According to police, 38-year-old Asif Iqbal was a resident of Samanabad. He was deployed with the Judicial Wing of the city police for security duty.
The shooting triggered panic in the court premises during rush hours and many lawyers and visitors were seen running towards safety as the gun-attack began. Some lawyers blamed police for the security breach.
Amjad Gujjar was nominated as an accused in the murder case of Kala Gujjar, who was murdered three years ago. Allegedly, deceased Amjad was also involved in the deadly shooting at the election office of the PML-N in 2007. According to an FIR, two political workers had been killed and five others were wounded by gunmen in the Gowalmandi police precincts.
The second suspect named by police as Hassan was admitted to the Mayo hospital in critical condition. Heavy police contingents launched search operation in the premises of the courts when the attackers had escaped.
One of the attackers was identified by police as Touqeer Gujjar, who is said to be a relative Amjad Gujjar.
A police investigator told The Nation that Amjad had allegedly shot dead Kala Gujjar, father of Touqeer Gujjar, in the Naulakha police precincts some three years ago. Soon after the fatal shooting, the attackers reached their residence near Naulakha bazaar where they fired several warning shots to “celebrate” the killing.
“A few gunmen made announcements in the locality amid aerial firing. They were saying that they had taken the revenge of the killing of their father,” a resident of the area said, requesting anonymity. He said the gunmen fled within minutes from the area.
Also, police were investigating how the gunmen sneaked into the courts despite heavy deployment and security checks at the main entrance.
Forensic experts also visited the crime scene to collect evidences. The bodies were sent to the morgue for an autopsy. The police also registered the double murder case against Touqeer Gujjar and his accomplices under section 7 of the anti-terrorism act and launched the investigation with no arrest made yet.
The funeral prayers for the martyred Head Constable will be offered at the Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh on early Thursday. Further investigation was underway.