21 January 2004	Wednesday	28 Ziqa'ad 1424

LAHORE, Jan 20: Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif of the Lahore High Court and his wife were injured in a murderous attack at their Defence residence early Tuesday allegedly by a former domestic servant.

Sacked by the family following a theft, Yousuf attacked the judge and his wife with a chopper. He was nabbed by Defence Housing Authority security staff when he was on his heels.

The injured were rushed to a Defence hospital where the judge's condition was stated to be stable after surgery. Police have registered a case against Yousuf for attempted murder.

The accused, who used to work with the family as their domestic servant, was sacked upon suspicion of theft by Justice Sharif. He was sent to jail after a court sentenced him for the offence. However, the judge later pardoned him and he was released.

The accused reportedly entered their DHA house sometimes around midnight on Monday with a long knife and a chopper. As he was familiar with the house, he hid himself close to the judge's room. As Khwaja Mohammad Sharif rose for his 'Tahajjud' prayers around 3:30am, the accused attacked him. Sharif was injured in the neck and face. As his wife came to his rescue, the accused hit her too, leaving her teeth broken.

When she cried for help, the accused took to his heels but was caught by the DHA security staff. By the time the judge was shifted to hospital, he had already bled profusely. He was immediately operated upon.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that policemen on duty outside the judge's residence were asleep in their tent at the time of the incident. They also failed to prevent Yousuf's stealthily entry inside the home last night. As the accused ran outside and then started sprinting for safety, the on-duty policemen did not wake up. A 'moharrar' at the Cantt police station, however, claimed that fleeing Yousuf was actually arrested by police. His claim was however, contested by area people.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, Chief Justice Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry and other judges of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday visited the hospitalized Khwaja Mohammad Sharif. The LHCBA condemned the attempted murder and prayed for his early recovery.