September 17, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 23, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: A major arms dealer and landowner of Alipur Farash who had escaped an assassination attempt on Aug 28, was shot dead along with his son by gunmen pursuing him on Saturday.

Haji Nawaz Khokar was going to Islamabad with his son Kashif, nephew Abid and cousin Aurangzaib when four armed men blocked their landcruiser in Dhoke Azam area, police said.

Before they could react to the situation, a vehicle appeared on the scene and people sitting in it opened indiscriminate fire on the landcruiser, killing Kashif at the spot. Haji Nawaz Khokar died in hospital.

Hospital sources said Abid was lying in Intensive Care Unit in precarious condition while Aurangzeb was stable.

Till late night no complaint had been lodged with the area police regarding the murders.

Station House Officer of Shahzad Town police station said funeral prayers were offered for the deceased but burial had been delayed to wait for the two sons of Haji Nawaz Khokar who are in prison on the charge of murder.

Shahzad Town police believes the attackers, who escaped, were avenging a young man, Afzal Habib, who was allegedly murdered in a land dispute by the imprisoned sons, Amir and Asif, about eight months ago.

Amir and Asif were refused bail by the Lahore High Court last week. The complainants were said to be relatives of Haji Nawaz Khokar whose overtures to settle the family feud were spurned.

On August 28, Haji Nawaz Khokar escaped an attempt on his life but his young employee Nadeem was killed. Nadeem was said to have been a cellmate of his two imprisoned sons and was on bail when killed.