12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, June 11: A Wapda engineer shot dead a director and wounded another at Wapda House on The Mall on Friday. Claiming to have been victimized consistently by the two directors , the accused confessed to the crime shortly after the incident.

"I have an expertise in computer-modelling, but they (the seniors) would want me to work on data-base." Iqbal Ansari, the engineer, opened fire on Abdul Jalil Jabbar and Abdur Rehman.

Mr Jabbar died on the spot and the other was shifted to the Wapda Hospital, where he was stated to be out of danger. Hailing from Bahawalpur, the accused joined the department as a civil engineer in 1992, sources in Wapda said, adding that he attempted to commit suicide during his posting at Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project, owing to his domestic problems.

However, his life was saved and he was transferred to the Wapda House. For the last two weeks, the Wapda said, he had been having a row with his senior officers, and was recently transferred from one office to the other within the Wapda House.

"I purchased the pistol a month ago from Chauburji," the accused told the police, adding that for a week he had kept the weapon with him at the office. "I knew they will do something wrong with me. I decided to commit the crime on receiving the transfer orders," he said.

ARRESTED: The police investigation wing claimed on Friday to have arrested six members, including three women, of an alleged gang of robbers. Claiming to have seized savings certificates worth Rs4.1 million, 2kg Gilgiti ornaments and Rs400,000 in cash, the police alleged the arrested men confessed to 16 crimes against property, including murders.

They were identified as Asif Raza, Umar Hayat, Ghulam Shabbir, Mumtaz Bibi, Meraj Bibi and Naheed. Ten cases are claimed to have been solved on identification of the accused. Further investigation is under way.