LAHORE: A man was killed while two others were injured on Saturday when more than 12 men ambushed the vehicle of MQM Central Punjab President Aamir Baloch in Green Town on Saturday. Baloch, however, escaped unhurt.

The assailants who were on motorbikes and cars sprayed a volley of bullets at the vehicle. The day-light incident panicked the people who ran for shelter, according to witnesses.

The man who died of bullet injuries was identified as Manzoor Afridi, of Sheraz Town, Green Town. Some TV channels attributed the deceased as maternal uncle of Baloch. However, Operations DIG Dr Haider Ashraf said the deceased was not a relative of Baloch.

The attack on the MQM leader angered other party workers who rushed to the hospital and the police station to lodge a protest.

Police intensified patrolling in the area besides deploying a large number of police personnel at the crime scene, the police station and the hospital.

Quoting initial police inquires, Dr Ashraf said the incident stemmed from a dispute over the ownership of land located at Bagarian. He said both Baloch and Afridi were present along with some other men in a vehicle near the plot when their rivals ambushed them.

The DIG said Afridi and his rivals had been in litigation to settle the dispute. The court gave its decision in favour of Afridi who approached the police for the possession of land. He started construction after Green Town police handed over him the possession of the land according to the court judgement.

On Saturday, he said, Baloch and Afridi arrived at the site when the rival group intercepted them.

The DIG said the deceased’s relatives nominated 25 men in the case.

The police were sent for the arrest of the alleged killers who escaped shortly after the incident.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the firing and sought a report from the DIG.

According to a handout, the chief minister said the accused involved in the firing incident should be arrested and a legal action be taken against them.

He expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of the “uncle” of Baloch due to firing, the handout said.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2014