LAHORE, Jan 12: The Additional Advocate-General of Punjab, Arif Bhinder, and six other people were gunned down by at least 12 assailants on the Queens Road here on Friday morning. In the exchange of fire, the mastermind of the attack was also killed.

The motive behind the killing is said to be a political rivalry between Mr Bhinder and Zahid alias Zahdu, residents of Khokhar village, Badami Bagh.

Others killed in the firing have been identified as Mr Bhinder’s younger brother Kashif Bhinder, nephew Muhammad Waseem, private bodyguard Akbar Ali, police guards Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Qamar and attacker Zahid. According to police, Mr Arif Bhinder, accompanied by his driver and two police constables, left his Golding Road residence in a car at 7:25am, followed by Kashif with his driver and two police guards in his official jeep and four police guards on two motorcycles.

Mr Arif was to drop his eight-year-old nephew Mohammad Waseem at the Cathedral School and then go to the Lahore High Court. His brother, Ferozwala TMO Kashif Bhinder, used to pick and drop his brother after two attempts had been made on his life.

When they reached the Queens Road to take a U-turn from the Waris Chowk to the Ganga Ram Hospital Chowk, Zahid, along with his at least 12 armed accomplices, intercepted them and showered the vehicles and motorbikes with bullets.

Mr Arif, Waseem, Aslam, Qamar and Akbar died on the spot. In the exchange of fire, the main accused, Zahid, was also killed.