Ex-councilor killed over right-of-way dispute

RAWALPINDI: Police on Wednesday registered the murder case of an ex-councilor, Rashid Qayum Qureshi, who was killed on Tuesday by rival group over a feud about right of way in the precincts of Gujjar Khan police station. Five people were also injured in the incident.

According to police, Chaudhry Aurangzaib owned a piece of land adjacent to houses belonging to the Qureshi clan. Aurangzeb wanted to build up the area where the Qureshis claimed right-of-way.

Rashid had already obtained a stay from a court anticipating any construction. On Tuesday, neighbors including Rizwan and Muhammad Mohsin informed Rashid and his brother Mubashir Qayum Qureshi that Aurangzaib and others had started construction illegally on the disputed site.

The Qureshi brothers took along the neighbours and some other people to talk Aurangzeb out of it. However, as soon as they reached the site, Aurangzeb, allegedly ordered his men to kill them. At this, a man identified as Jehanzaib opened fire, while others attacked them with sticks and axes owing to which Rashid Qureshi, Rizwan, Hasan , Suleman, Ashfaq, Kamran Shahid and Imran got seriously injured who were later shifted to hospital. However Rashid succumbed to the wounds and died.

The family and supporters of the deceased had staged a protest on GT Road on Tuesday.

The demonstrators had dispersed only after Saddar SP Rai Mazhar and Kahuta DSP Tariq Mehboob reached there on directions of CPO Faisal Rana and assured them that the suspects would be arrested soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2019.