October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

SHEIKHUPURA, Oct 17: Several people on Wednesday blocked traffic on Faisalabad Road near Jewanpur railway crossing in protest against firing by policemen in which a man was killed and two others injured.

Protesters said Azhar Masood and his brother, Arif, were returning home from a mosque after offering Isha prayers a day before Eid. Muhafiz police personnel Anwar, Abrar, Ayub and Nadeem Anjum, who were on two motorcycles and already chasing two suspects, stopped Masood and Arif and started interrogation. They accused them of drug trafficking and tried to drag them to the police station. Masood and Arif resisted and their resistance angered the policemen, who allegedly opened fire at them. As a result, Masood, Arif and passer-by Tariq were injured. Later, Masood succumbed to his injuries at Lahore General Hospital.

The news of Masood’s death took people from Jewanpura, Bhekhi Road and Bombwanwala to the road and traffic remained suspended at least for an hour. Protesters end their protest after police officials assured them of action against the accused policemen. All accused have disappeared, however, police have arrested constable Anwar’s father.