OKARA, April 26: A woman and her brother were shot and injured in the courtroom of an additional sessions judge on Saturday morning.

According to police, Ghaffar Ahmad Jat contracted love marriage with Asia of Chak 41/2-L. Asia’s grandfather Muhammad Rafiq registered a kidnap case with Okara Sadar police. However, Asia stated before police that she had contracted love marriage of her own will. The police produced the couple before a civil judge where Asia verified her statement given before police. On it, the judge dismissed the case.

However, Asia’s relatives challenged the verdict of civil judge. The case was to be heard by additional sessions judge Irshadullah Khan Sial who, in the meanwhile, was transferred.

On Saturday morning, the reader of the court was giving next date to the litigants when Asia’a brother Salim reached the courtroom and allegedly tried to kidnap his sister at gunpoint. Ghaffar was present in the court along with his brother Iqbal and one Sadiq. When Asia raised an alarm, Iqbal opened fire on Salim. Bullets hit Salim and Asia who were admitted to the DHQ Hospital in critical condition.

People present in the courtroom caught Iqbal, Ghaffar and Sadiq and handed them over to Sadar police.

After the incident, lawyers went on strike. Bar president Najamus Saqib told a press conference that security arrangements should be adopted to avoid such incidents in future.