Old rivalry: Two injured in firing at laboratory

BAHAWALPUR: A man was shot and injured on Friday apparently by an old rival. One of his colleagues was also injured. The two men were taken to Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH), where they were later reported to be out of danger. Police said Khizar Abbas, a pathologist at the laboratory near the BVH, had had a dispute with some men. They said on Friday, Muhammad Hashim and his accomplices entered the laboratory and shot Abbas in both legs. One of his colleagues was also hit. The suspects fled the scene. The injured men were taken to the BVH, where doctors treating them later said that they would likely survive. Abbas told police that Hashim had also attacked his bother a few months back. He said his brother was critically injured, but had survived the attack. Police said they had registered a case on Abbas’s complaint. They said they were looking for Hashim, a BVH worker. Owners of several shops and medical stores around the laboratory protested against the incident calling it a case of terrorism. They said security guards deployed at the hospital and laboratories often didn’t check visitors.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2013.