LAHORE: A policeman and an under-trial prisoner were gunned down when an unidentified man opened fire on them outside the court of Additional Sessions Judge Imran Shafi on Wednesday.
The firing incident also left another accused injured, who was shifted to Mayo Hospital in life-threatening situation. The assailant, however, managed to escape.
The deceased cop has been identified as Asif.
The incident occurred outside the court of Additional Sessions Judge Imran Shafi, who ordered the CCPO and the DIG (Operations) to submit an explanation of the incident and identify the security loopholes that led to the firing incident.
According to the police, the victim policeman was taking an under-trial suspect out of a courtroom when their rivals opened fire on them outside the court room, leaving them with fatal firearm wounds. The accused Amjad died on the spot while the constable Asif succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.
Upon being informed about the incident of the firing inside the session court area, a heavy contingent of police personnel reached at the crime scene and cordoned off the area as well as shut down the two main gates of session court. Police immediately continued the search operation to arrest the culprit and no one allow to enter or exit without complete checking. After clearing the court premises, the police said the suspect had fled.
The family members and friends of deceased’s Amjad also reached at the crime spot and started protest against security lapse as well as police negligence. A number of lawyers also gathered on the premises of the court to protest against security lapse, demanding stringent security measures for the court. A senior police officer said that two groups named Amjad and Zawar of Gawalmandi had clashed over some issue two years back on which the father of accused Toqueer had murdered. The deceased Amjad jailed on the charges of murder case.
Published in Daily Times, February 1st 2018.