LAHORE, Sept 21: An indiscriminate firing at the Garden Town house of caretakers of Hazrat Sultan Bahu's shrine left two housemaids dead. Four other people were murdered in separate incidents in the city on Tuesday.
Police said six gunmen stormed into the late Sahibzada Ghulam Gillani's house and opened an indiscriminate fire on the inmates. The firing resulted in critical injuries to all people inside the house. They included Shamim Akhtar, the widow of the Sahibzada, three maids - Maryam, 14, Bushra, 32, and Amna, 8, and driver Munawar Ali.
Neighbours called out the police, who dispatched the injured to a hospital nearby where Maryam and Bushra died. The other injured were admitted to the hospital where only Ms Shamim was stated to be out of danger.
Although the family has not disclosed any motive behind the crime, the police believed that the posterity of the late Sahibzada had dispute over taking charge of the responsibilities of their father after his death and that of the shrine in Jhang.
The Sahibzada had children from his two wives. One of his widows lived in Lahore and the other in Multan. The family in Lahore is reported to have claimed that the deceased's eldest son, Sahibzada Munib, had been named his successor by the late Sahibzada, which the Multan family would not own.
Briefing the operations police SSP on the crime, Model Town police SP Farhan Baig said the police were investigating the crime from three aspects. First of them is the caretaking issue, second another family dispute and the third one the possibility of honour killing (of maids).
The SP said Ms Shamim didn't receive any bullet wound, but she was thrashed. The bodies have been sent to the city mortuary for autopsy. No case has so far been registered. Meanwhile, a property dealer was shot dead over an old enmity in City Raiwind.
Police said Rana Amjad, a real estate agent, had an enmity with Khalid Hameed. They both had exchanged harsh words some days ago. Amjad was on his way when his car was intercepted by the rival and he allegedly opened fire on him. The attacker escaped and the property dealer suffered injuries. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
The body was sent to the city mortuary for autopsy. A case was registered with no arrest so far.A rickshaw driver was shot dead reportedly when he refused to pay extra money at Green Town.
Police said Jajji and Jimmy of the area used to extort money from the drivers. Muhammad Shafi refused to give in to their threats and after an argument the armed men opened fire on him leaving him injured. The driver breathed his last at a hospital.
An alleged hardened criminal was shot dead by some people outside his house at Manga Mandi. Police said Allah Ditta, 48, had a criminal record and enmity with several groups.
He left the house by his motorcycle and was soon attacked. He died on the spot. The police suspected that Zulfiqar, one of the deceased's rivals, might be involved in the murder.