January 16, 2002	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 1, 1422

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SIALKOT, Jan 15: Seven people were killed — four on the district courts premises and three in a shootout with police — while three constables sustained serious on Tuesday.

The Sialkot SSP said four members of a family were shot dead by three people in the court of additional district and sessions judge Jawadul Hasan. Later, two of the killers and a constable were killed and two constables injured in a shootout outside the court premises.

He said a landlord, Shafi Khan, along with his three sons Qayyum, Afzal and Faisal was attending the court proceedings in connection with a murder. At about 10:30am, three people armed with grenades, Kalashnikovs and pistols, forced their entry into the court room, while their fourth accomplice stood guard outside. The gunmen started spraying bullets in the court room killing Shafi and his sons on the spot. Judge Jawadul Hasan and the court staff saved their lives by taking shelter behind the court furniture.

The SSP said the killers fled towards the busy Paris Road and tried to snatch a motorcycle from an unidentified man at gunpoint.

Police were informed about the incident by phone. A Rescue-15 and an Elite mobile squad started chasing the killers. They hurled a grenade at the police party which fell in the backyard of the Police Lines and exploded. They also started firing as a result of which constables Sabir Husain and Azhar Rashid sustained serious injuries. They were admitted to the DHQ Hospital.

The accused ran towards Khadim Ali Road and opened fire on the chasing police party. A bullet fired by the killers hit Constable Naveed Ashiq who was travelling in a commuter wagon. He died on the spot.

The SSP said the killers entered the Lorry Adda and threw two more grenades on the police squad injuring Constable Salim. They took positions there and started firing. Police returned the fire and a shootout continued for quite some time which left two of the killers dead, one injured while the fourth one made good his escape.

The dead were identified as Ejaz alias Jaji, a proclaimed offender, and Faqir Saeen.

The SSP termed the incident an outcome of old enmity. A number of people sustained minor injuries due to a stampede which followed the firing incident.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers for Constable Naveed were offered at the Police Lines amid tight security in the evening.

Later, the SSP told newsmen in the evening that police recovered seven grenades, four Kalashnikovs, three pistols and a knife from the possession of the dead.