SARGODHA: The security guard of a bank in Quaidabad tehsil of Khushab district shot at and critically injured the branch manager on Wednesday morning over allegations of blasphemy and the victim later died at Services Hospital in Lahore.

A former army man, Ahmad Nawaz, the security guard at National Bank of Pakistan’s Quaidabad branch – some 50 kilometres from here, opened fire at branch manager Malik Muhammad Imran Hanif at about 8:45am on Wednesday for, what he alleged, “uttering insulting remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)”. He later surrendered himself to the police and confessed to opening fire at Hanif.

An injured Hanif was shifted to Quaidabad THQ Hospital in a critical condition from where he was referred to Services Hospital in Lahore where he died.

He was a resident of Asif Colony in Jauharabad of Khushab district.

Local clerics gathered around the bank and observed a shutter-down strike. They announced all-out support for Nawaz, who was in police custody.

Hanif’s maternal uncle said his nephew was a true believer and could not dare utter blasphemous remarks.

Razzaq, the guard who worked the night shift at the bank and was replaced by Nawaz in the morning, said manager Hanif reached the branch at 8:40am while the suspect had reached at 7am, much before his shift was to start. He said he heard two gunshots and rushed towards the manager’s office when he saw Nawaz about to fire a third time but he overpowered him. Razzaq said he did not hear any conversation between the manager and the guard before the gunshots.

A local police officer requesting anonymity claimed that Hanif had developed a grudge against Nawaz and sacked him from duty four months ago. He had also attempted to kill the suspect by strangulation for reportedly insulting his brother.

The guard used his influence to get himself reinstated and used to scuffle with the manager regularly over the last couple of months. This could be a case of retribution rather than alleged blasphemy, he added.

Quaidabad police registered a case and were investigating. They assured a group of local clerics that the investigation would be conducted on merit.

The security of the bank branch concerned was beefed up as local religious leaders and traders announced continuing their shutter-down strike.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2020