LAHORE: A firing incident on the sessions court premises on Wednesday left two men seriously injured, raising concerns over court security.

According to witnesses, a murder suspect, Saad, appeared for a hearing before an additional district & sessions judge. As he exited the courtroom, an armed man, who was later identified as Nadeem, allegedly belonging to a rival group, opened fire on the suspect.

During the firing, a passerby, identified as Usman, was also injured.

Both men sustained serious injuries and were immediately shifted to hospital for medical treatment.

Police arrest the ‘hired shooter’

The security personnel at the sessions court apprehended the attacker on the spot and recovered the weapon.

Police officials say the incident appeared to be the result of an old enmity.

Initial police investigation suggested that the arrested man was a hired shooter tasked with killing the suspect.

The investigation revealed that the shooter first attempted to smuggle a pistol into the court by tying it to his leg. However, after failing to do so, he was allegedly provided the weapon inside a washroom of the sessions court.

The police say that Saad suffered a bullet wound to his abdomen and two to his legs.

Taking serious notice of the incident, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum sought detailed reports from the district & sessions judge and the inspector general of police, Punjab.

Expressing concern, the chief justice said negligence in court security would not be tolerated. She directed the authorities concerned to ensure foolproof security arrangements in courts across Punjab.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026