LAHORE, Oct 5: At least four people were injured and seven vehicles damaged in a clash between workers of two political parties at Gopalnagar in Naseerabad early Saturday morning.

It is reported Raja Munawwar of the PML-QA was heading a bicycle rally in his constituency PP-152. It was attacked allegedly with bricks and stones when it passed through the locality. Participants in the rally ran for cover. Panic gripped the locality when some unidentified men opened fire from the rooftop of a house.

Some of the rallyists retaliated and a crossfire ensued which continued for some minutes. Residents called out police who rushed to the scene of crime.

Four rallyists Sabir Masih, 50, Vikram Masih, 25, Mohammad Yousuf, 30, and 40-year-old Bushra Bibi were injured and were rushed to the Lahore General Hospital.

Quoting doctors, the police said all injured people were stated to be in stable condition.

The injured people told the police they were attacked at the behest of PPP candidate Ashraf Ejaz.

The police registered a case against 38 people, including the PPP candidate and four councillors. The police claimed they had so far arrested eight people. Raids were being carried out for further arrests, they said.

Model Town division police SP Mubin Ahmad told reporters at the crime scene this was not yet clear whether the two groups had clashed or it was a one-sided attack. “Further investigation will make things clear,” he said.

Meanwhile, a heavy police contingent was deployed at the main election offices of the two candidates to avoid any further clash.

Furthermore, the PML-QA candidate while speaking at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club said he had no enmity which could be resulted in such attack.

“It was purely a politically motivated attack.”

He said the case registered against the accused could be withdrawn if they tendered an unconditional apology.