In Thikriwala, lawyer shot dead during robbery

Victim’s uncle, a member of Punjab Bar Council Faisalabad, called for strike against murder

THEKRI WALA:

A lawyer was allegedly shot dead while resisting a robbery in Thikriwala, Punjab on Monday.

Police said the 30-year-old victim identified as Advocate Suleman Khaliq, was the nephew of Punjab Bar Council Faisalabad member Farooq Dogar was gunned down during robbery on Monday. The police after conducting an autopsy handed over the dead body to the family and registered a case under the section of robbery.

Moreover, District Bar Association Secretary Khurram Aijaz called for a strike to protest the advocate’s murder, due to which the advocates did not appear in the courts.

As per the details, Suleman advocate got married one and a half months ago. On the day of the incident, he along with his wife Saima Bibi, uncle Zahid Ali, brothers Rehman Khaliq and Tauseef Liaquat and other relatives were travelling back from an event in Jhapal when two masked robbers, riding a motorcycle, stopped them near Rajbah Palli.

The suspected robbers held them at gunpoint and pulled out Suleman, who was seated in the back. The other suspect took away two rings, two cuffs, a three tola gold necklace and a four tola gold piece from the wife of the advocate.

The suspected robbers also snatched Rs10,000 cash from the advocate's uncle and Rs20,000 cash from the victim’s brother Rehman.

The robbers opened fire using a 30-bore pistol at the advocate for putting up resistance. The shots, fired at various parts of the body, left the advocate in a pool of blood. The suspects, however, managed to flee from the crime scene while firing shots in the air. Suleman succumbed to his injuries while he was being shifted to rural health centre.

Saddar DSP Jamshed Iqbal, Nasir Chishti, SHO Sandal bar Taimoor Shehzad including other police officers reached on the spot and handed over the dead body to the heirs after an autopsy.

The police registered a case against unknown suspects under Sections 302-392 on a statement recorded by Zahid, the son of Deewan Ali. Police started an operation to search for the fugitives.

Incidents of murder during robbery were not uncommon in the province.

On January 27, a woman was reportedly murdered during robbery in Shahdara area of Lahore.

The unidentified suspected robbers barged into the house in Lalazar Colony. The victim had been living in the house with her husband Umar Baig, mother-in-law and children. Her husband dealt in transport business.

On the day of the incident, Umar and the children visited a market to buy items for the birthday party of his child. When they returned, they found the victim in a pool of blood on a bed, while gold ornaments and cash were missing from the house.

On August 31 last year, a trader was killed by robbers when he offered resistance in the Shadbagh area of Lahore.

Muhammad Naseer was going to Harbanspura in a vehicle along with his brother Muhammad Yaseen when two robbers stopped them and attempted to loot them at gunpoint. When the victims offered resistance, the robbers shot him dead and fled the crime scene with Rs800,000.

On April 23, a shopkeeper was shot dead over resistance during a robbery bid in the provincial capital. The murder took place amid concerns about increase in incidents of crime after relaxation of the Covid lockdown in the city.

The case was reported in Liaquatabad where a shopkeeper, identified as Hafiz Farooq, was busy in work when unidentified men came to his shop and tried to rob him. He offered resistance on which they opened fire.

The victim died at a nearby hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2021.