LAHORE: Armed personnel of the Special Protection Unit (SPU), who were escorting the Chinese engineers, scuffled with the staff at Ring Road toll plaza in Harbanspura and also fired warning shots, creating panic on the road.

There were some reports that the SPU officials opened fire in self-defence when the staff manning the toll plaza attacked them.

The brawl followed by aerial fire occurred when staff at the toll plaza near Quaid-i-Azam Interchange asked the SPU officials to pay fee and the latter refused saying the Chinese engineers were exempted from such liabilities.

An official privy to the information said as both sides stuck to their stances, they exchanged hot words and scuffled later on.

He said one of the SPU guards opened fire to disperse the toll plaza staffers.

The matter drew attention of the high command in Punjab government as well as the Lahore police, prompting them to dispatch a contingent to calm down the situation.

The respective DSP and SHO were leading the police contingent, the official said adding that the Chinese engineers were safely escorted to their destination by the police.

However, a dialogue at higher level was held to resolve the issue.

Cantt Division SP Operations Syed Aziz told Dawn that the police officials, who were dispatched to the area, controlled the situation.

He said the police would take action on receiving application which was yet awaited from either side.

To a question, he said, the Chinese experts and engineer being escorted by the SPU guards were working at the Orange Line Train project in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2021