LAHORE: Renowned playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed was shot at and injured by two motorcyclists near Shadiwal Chowk in Johar Town on Tuesday, police said.

The motive for the shooting could not be determined till the filing of the report.

Syed was operated upon at Doctors’ Hospital and was shifted to the intensive care unit of the private facility for further treatment.

After the news of the attack was flashed by news channels, Syed’ family members, friends, students and some Beaconhouse National University faculty members immediately reached the hospital.

Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Rana Abdul Jabber told Dawn that Syed was going to his Defence residence by car around 5pm after visiting a private university situated on Raiwind Road when two young men on a motorcycle opened fire on him while overtaking the vehicle.

He said the attackers fired two pistol shots, one hitting Syed’s right arm and penetrating to armpit. They fled the scene immediately, he added.

The DIG said after the attack Mr Syed got off the car and asked a passerby to take him to Shaukat Khanum Hospital. The man, who is a property dealer, drove Syed to the hospital from where a Rescue 1122 ambulance shifted him to Doctors’ Hospital on his request.

Mr Jabbar said the doctors operated upon Syed and removed the bullet, adding his condition was said to be out of danger.

He said police seized two empties from the crime scene. One bullet shattered the driver’s windowpane while the other hit the car’s windscreen, he added.

The DIG said as initial investigations were on, it would be premature to comment on the attack’s motive. He said police were examining all possible angles to the crime, including robbery attempt and targeted attack.

He said the police would register a case after getting Syed’s statement.

After senior police officers arrived at the hospital, all except Syed’s family members were barred from entering the emergency ward where the injured had been allotted bed No 4.

The medical staff told Dawn that the patient was under treatment and was stable.

Mr Syed, who is a playwright, poet, short story writer and educationist, has been teaching in different education institutions for over three decades. He worked as an associate professor at the GCU and was currently the head of the BNU’s film and television department.

Asghar Nadeem Syed’s popular TV serials include Hawaian, Chand Grehen, Piyas, Nijaat and Ghulam Gardish.