LAHORE: The investigation police have arrested the student of a private school, the ‘prime suspect’ who was allegedly resorting to aerial firing, in connection with a case lodged against several schoolchildren and others for taking out an ‘illegal car rally’ at the Main Boulevard of Gulberg some days back.
Identified as Ali Mardan, the student was spotted in a video clip when he was holding the 9mm pistol and firing in the air during the ‘unlawful’ rally he and his fellow students from various private schools were taking out on luxury vehicles on the Main Boulevard Gulberg on March 21.
The video clip was uploaded by some of the students on the social media.
The police had acted following a 15 call about the gunshots and panic the students of various schools were creating on the main artery of Gulberg.
The police had arrested many of them from the spot, including drivers of the cars while the prime suspect, who was armed with a pistol, had managed his escape.
Later, it had transpired that most of the students hailed from elite class families.
A case was lodged against them on the complaint of Gulberg sub-inspector Mohammad Nawaz.
He had nominated the school children and drivers of the cars. Some of them were residents of posh localities, including Defence Housing Authority (DHA).
Those, who were nominated in the first information report, including Bilal of Askari 11, Abdullah (DHA Phase 5), Ibrahim (Askari 11), Shawal (Wapda Town), Ammaruddin (Model Town), Rehan Rizwan (Askari 10), Abdullah (Askari 11), Ibrahim of Lahore Cantt, Mohammad Sher of Davies Road, Fawad of Lahore Cantt, Mair (DHA Phase 5), were arrested from the spot.
However, two others nominated in the FIR, including Ali Mardan, who was resorting to aerial firing and another student Ibrahim, who was filming the incident by his mobile phone, had fled the scene.
An official said the police high-ups had called an emergency meeting in connection with the ‘illegal’ activity of the students.
During the meeting, he said, Lahore DIG Operations Afzaal Kausar showed his serious concerns over the lack of professionalism of the Model Town division police for not arresting the prime suspect. The official said the DIG was critical of Model Town operations SP Ammara Shirazi and other police officials when it was reported that the armed student had fled the scene.
He suggested that all relevant police officers must be held accountable for not arresting the prime suspect.
Some days after lodging of the FIR, the investigation police carried out raids at various places and arrested Ali Mardan.
“The student, who was firing with the 9mm pistol during the rally, has been arrested”, Gulberg Circle ASP Sheharbano confirmed to Dawn here on Tuesday.
She said all other suspects, including students and drivers, who were nominated in the FIR, had already been arrested.
Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2023
