LAHORE: Five people were gunned down on the road in parts of the city during the last 24 hours with the reports that unhindered arms smuggling into the provincial capital was behind rising violence as the suspects used lethal weapons in the incidents.

In Raiwind, unidentified armed men chased a car and intercepted it at a busy road. The car riders, including Mansoor Bhatti and Siddique Jan, were carrying cash. The suspects sprayed a volley of bullets on their car when they tried to escape. Both of them died of multiple gunshots.

In Batapur, the family of one Shafqat Murtaza, including his wife Muqadas, 10-year-old daughter Maryam and driver Shoaib were going to attend a Walima in a car. As they reached the Bansanwala Road, four car riders intercepted them. The men armed with lethal weapons opened fire on the car. Resultantly, Muqadas and Shoaib got bullets in the head and chest and died on the spot while Maryam got critical injuries.

Later, police reached the site and lodged a case against on complaint of Shafqat who alleged that his rivals Shahid Waheed, Ali Hassan and two unidentified armed men carried out the attack on his car.

In another incident, a young man Abdul Raheem was shot dead by one Shahzad in Bhati Gate.

According to the FIR, Shahzad fired shots on Abdul Raheem after exchanging harsh words with him over unknown reasons.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024