LAHORE: Video clips of two shocking incidents of violence against lowly staffers of private concerns over parking issues in the DHA, circulating on social media, have sparked outrage among netizens and other members of public, who demand justice for the victims.

In the latest incident taking place in Defence area a parking lot attendant fell victim to a brutal assault by some car riders for pointing out wrong parking.

A CCTV video clip of the incident, which occurred on Aug 8, shows three to four men attacking a parking company employee. The victim, identified as Muhammad Ayub, had tried to intervene when a young man was parking his car wrongly in the Defence B area. The situation escalated when the unidentified men became aggressive and attempted to attack Ayub. However, the parking lot attendant was rescued by passersby.

Subsequently, the attackers called some of their friends who soon joined them, and the group subjected the victim to brutal torture.

On the complaint filed by the parking attendant, the police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to trace and apprehend the attackers.

In another incident, occurring three days ago, a security guard was subjected to similar assault by five unidentified armed individuals when he attempted to halt their car at the entrance of a plaza in Defence-C.

The CCTV footage of the incident shows the assailants attacking the guard, even resorting to aerial firing before fleeing the scene.

The incidents have raised concerns about public safety and the alarming prevalence of violence in the public space.

Cantonment Division Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Arslan Zahid said two of the suspects involved in the earlier attack had been apprehended and weapons had been recovered from their possession.

He assured that efforts were underway to identify and arrest the suspects involved in the recent attack on the parking attendant.

As news of these incidents spread across social media, users expressed their concern and dismay, many of them calling for swift action against the perpetrators and stressed the importance of ensuring safety of workers.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2023