RAWALPINDI: A man suspected of shooting a traffic warden was arrested on Saturday as the critically injured is still struggling for his life in the ICU of a hospital.

Doctors at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) described Sohail Shahzad’s condition as critical. The injured has not regained consciousness since he was operated upon after being shot by a motorcycle rider doing a wheelie on Murree Road on Thursday.

City Traffic Officer (CTO) Yousuf Shahid said the suspect was rounded up by the New Town police from People’s Colony. The suspect claimed that he fired gunshots into the air to get his friends released from the police.

The CTO identified the suspect as Junaid alias Jony and said during interrogation the suspect said he was wearing black shalwar kameez and riding a 70cc motorcycle when he fired gunshots near Sixth Road.

The CTO said the suspect had also been involved in mobile phone snatching.

The official said the traffic police had launched a crackdown against motorcycle riders doing wheelie risking their own lives as well as that of other citizens. So far, he added, 29 motorcyclists have been arrested besides impounding dozens of motorcycles modified for wheeling.

Special police squads have been constituted to check wheelie on Murree Road.

The CTO warned parents to keep a check on their sons, especially those using modified motorcycles.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2017