GUJRAT: Three under-trial prisoners were killed and two others injured when two men opened fire in a courtroom inside Hafizabad judicial complex, where they were produced by police for the hearing of a double-murder case on Saturday.

Both the assailants were arrested on the spot.

Sabiur Rehman, a spokesman for Hafizabad district police told Dawn by telephone that five under-trial prisoners belonging to Rajpoot group were produced in the court of Additional District and Session Judge (AD&SJ) Nadeem Anjum Mian for hearing of a double-murder case of Vanni village in Kassoki police precincts, registered last year.

The proceedings were about to start, when two men – Sufian and Amanullah – of rival Jutt group, also complainant in the case, opened fire at the handcuffed prisoners, killing two of them – Nadeem and Waseem – on the spot and critically injuring another, identified as Rashid, who also succumbed to his injuries later at the Trauma Centre of Hafizabad District Headquarters Hospital. The remaining suspects – Imran and Hamza – were referred to a hospital in Lahore given their critical condition.

Rescue 1122 shifted the bodies to the DHQ Hospital for an autopsy.

The spokesman said the case was yet to be registered, while the police had started investigation after arresting the two assailants.

Giving the background, he said the Jutt and Rajpoot groups of Vanni village had an old enmity that had so far claimed lives of several people from both sides.

He said it was being probed how the attackers managed to bring weapons inside the courtroom in the judicial complex, located near the DPO office, despite strict orders for the body search of the visitors.

A local police official said on the condition of anonymity that litigants accompanying lawyers often resist body search considering it an insult.

Following the incident, DPO Muhammad Massom suspended the judicial complex’s security in charge SI Khalid Mahmood, along with the entire security staff, for the lapse, he said.

The DPO also ordered an inquiry to ascertain the reasons for the security lapse, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2021