SIALKOT: The roads connecting cities with the Sialkot International Airport have become unsafe for motorists as in recent days gunmen have struck expats twice on Thursday.

People have demanded patrolling on the main roads leading to the airport from Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Pasrur and surrounding areas.

Gujranwala-based Mirza Shakeel Ahmed landed at the airport from a Saudi Arabia flight last week. He was struck by four gunmen, wearing police uniforms, near village Gadiyaala on Daska-Sambrial Road and fled after looting 9,000 Saudi riyals and thousands of rupees.

The Sambrial police are investigating with no arrest.

In another incident, two motorcyclists looted 10,000 UAE dirhams, Rs40,000 and luggage from expat Zaki Abbas and his family near village Jodheywali-Sialkot. The expat family arrived their house empty handed.

Sialkot Saddar police are investigating with no clue or arrest.

Also, two motorcyclists snatched gold ornaments and Rs1 million from Aslam and his wife near village Ludhar-Sialkot.

Besides road robberies, house robberies are also taking place in cities.

Three gunmen looted gold ornaments, cash, electronics and other valuables worth Rs4 million from the house of sister of Chaudhry Bashir Ahmed, former deputy mayor of Sialkot Municipal Corporation, in Fatehgarh-Hajipura Sialkot city.

The Hajipura police are looking into the case.

In Daska, six gunmen, posing as income tax officials, stormed into the house of trader Haji Muhammad Ashraf on Jamshaid Road in Daska.

They took away gold ornaments, cash, electronics and other valuables Rs800,000. The Daska city police have registered a case.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2019