LAHORE, July 21: An under-trial prisoner was killed and his brother, who was also facing trial, injured after their opponents opened fire on them at the Model Town courts amidst police presence.

The second incident on court premises took place only 20 days after a convicted prisoner shot dead another inmate inside the district and sessions court’s judicial lockup before the police killed him.

Once again poor police security arrangements came into light as two assailants managed to reach near judicial lockup and opened fire on Mukhtar Masih alias Makha of Nishtar Colony and his brother Ishaq Masih, who were facing trial in a double-murder case.

Naseerabad police inquiries showed that Mukhtar and Ishaq, who had shot dead two brothers over a trifle in Yohannabad area in 2008, were brought to the court for case hearing from Camp Jail and were detained at the judicial lock-up.

A police escort was bringing the prisoners back from the court to the lock-up around 1pm when a young man in his 20s armed with a pistol approached them and opened fire.

The suspect tried to flee after injuring two brothers, but witnesses managed to capture him who was identified as Zeeshan of Nishtar Colony.

The suspect was pursuing double-murder case of his father and paternal uncle against the victims.

According to an eyewitness, the suspects were two and one of them managed to escape.

The firing triggered panic among judges, lawyers and visitors.

An official at the MT courts, who spoke to Dawn on condition of anonymity, said multiple entries into courts especially from lawyers’ chambers appeared to be a major security lacuna.

He said neither lawyers got them checked at main entrance nor they allowed closure of entries from chambers side as a result anyone could enter into courts with prohibited items.

The police shifted the body for autopsy and registered a case.

Model Town SP (Operations) Awais Malik claimed that only one suspect entered the court premises from a damaged portion of the boundary wall instead of main entry guarded with policemen.

He said the judicial authorities had time and again been conveyed about the damaged portion of the wall but to no avail.

Lahore High Court Registrar Sohail Nasir, when contacted, said after the sessions court episode, the provincial police chief was conveyed to ensure foolproof security on courts premises in the city.

He said the detailed report of the incident had been sought from police and security loopholes, if found, would be removed.

DIG (Operations) Rai Muhammad Tahir said it was result of police efforts that the suspect was captured soon after shooting.

He said the police escort managed to capture Zeeshan who targeted killers of his father and paternal uncle.