LAHORE, May 1: A petrol pump guard shot dead a motorcyclist over Rs5 in Ghaziabad on Monday. Ahmad Ali told police that he along with his elder brother Muhammad Ali, 25, came to a filling station in Ghaziabad to get fuel for Rs500.

He said his brother objected to the reading on the meter when the staff asked for the money.

“It (the reading) was Rs5 less than that of what my brother used to get earlier,” he added.

The station staff told Muhammad Ali, a garments shop owner, that the oil price had been increased. But he refused to pay the extra Rs5, saying that the hike had not been notified yet and the filling station had not displayed new rates, the police said.

It led to an exchange of harsh words, the police said, adding that he slapped one of the station staffers who also slapped in retaliation.

In the meantime, the police said, a guard, Gul Rahim, of the station rushed there and opened fire, causing critical bullet injuries to Muhammad Ali.

The injured was rushed to the Shalamar Hospital. He died before first aid. His body was removed to the city mortuary for autopsy.

Later, residents and relatives of the deceased gathered at the scene and held a protest. They also attempted to torch the filling station, but the police intervened and dispersed them.

A murder case has been registered with no arrest.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

THE FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth ...
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...