Three killed in court firing

Published April 17, 2002

HARIPUR, April 16: Three people were killed and two were injured, at the District & Sessions court, here on Tuesday, when the opposing party opened fire on them.

The murder was the result of a feud over a piece of land, between the families of Nawab Khan and Abdul Ghafar, which had already claimed two lives from each side.

According to police, Mustafa, and his relatives Abdul Wahab and Khursheed were waiting in the court veranda, for hearing in a murder case.

Suddenly, Iqbal, Jamshed, Abid and two other accomplices, opened fire on them, killing two immediately, and wounding two bystanders. The third victim was shot while trying to escape. Mustafa was out on bail, charged with killing his uncle over a land dispute two years ago.

According to eye-witnesses, once the shooting started, the police deployed to prevent violence at the court, ran to save themselves, instead of taking action against the attackers.

The president District Bar, Javed Tanoli, immediately called a meeting of bar members and condemned the cowardice and negligence of the police which resulted in three deaths.

He said that if the police had acted professionally, the loss of life could have been averted.He demanded an inquiry, and punishment for the police involved.