RAHIM YAR KHAN: Two persons were killed on Sunday in firing during a dispute between two “sectarian” groups allegedly during a quarrel at Chak No 36-P over possession of a mosque, in the limits of Sahja police station.

According to local sources, the groups belonging to different religious sects had a dispute over the issue of possession of the village mosque.

During the quarrel, Ghulam Haider and Imran, along with their accomplice opened fire on their opponents, killing Ziaur Rehman on the spot.

Another man identified as, Tariq, who was injured in the firing, succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital.

Later, a case was registered against the suspects at Sahja police station.

District police spokesperson Ahmed Nawaz Cheema, however, claimed that only one person, Ziaur Rehman, was killed during the quarrel between two groups over “a piece of agricultural land”.

He denied it was a sectarian issue.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2020