RAWALPINDI: Three persons were murdered and two others injured in a clash between two groups in Chah Sultan in the limits of Waris Khan police on Thursday night.

The exchange of gunfire created panic and fear among the residents of the populated area as people remained stuck inside their houses till reinforcement of the police arrived.

Zain Mukhtar, 23, stated in an FIR that he and his uncle Raja Nasir were sitting in a furniture shop when eight people, including Suleman, Ghulam Khan, reached there. He said Ghulam Khan challenged Raja Nasir against holding of a jirga to resolve an earlier issue.

In the meantime, he added, Suleman opened fire on Raja Nasir while Nadir Khan hit him in the head with a pistol butt. The armed men escaped after firing gunshots in which their own people were also injured.

Mr Mukhtar said a quarrel had occurred between Suleman and his cousin Ali Hassan over a petty issue a few days ago. A jirga was scheduled to be held to settle the issue on Thursday which was opposed by the rival group.

He said in the FIR that the injured were shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital by local people but his uncle died before reaching there.

On the other hand, Mohammad Ashraf and Farooq from the other group also succumbed to their injuries later. Both belonged to the rival Kohistani group, the FIR added.

Soon after the incident, senior police officers with reinforcement of the police reached the scene and controlled the situation.

Meanwhile, the charred body of a hotel owner was found in his abandoned car close to a garbage dump in Morgah on Friday. Police said some passersby spotted the burnt car parked near the garbage dump with the charred body inside and informed the police.

The police reached the spot and shifted the body, later identified as Mohammad Farooq, the owner of a hotel located at the Mall Rawalpindi.

According to sources, Mr Farooq, who was a dual national, left his house on Thursday night but did not return.

Police are examining CCTV footage obtained from nearby buildings as a motorcycle rider carrying a bottle possibly petrol had been spotted heading towards the abandoned car.

Police suspected that the man was killed before being burnt by someone. However, forensic experts and police were investigating the case from different lines to ascertain the motive behind the murder.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2022