Four men gunned down in Lodhran

Police cite family enmity as possible motive behind quadruple murder

LODHRAN:

At least four men were shot dead by unidentified gunmen within the limits of Kahror Pakka Police Station City on Thursday.

The police suspected this could be a part of targeted killings in the city.

Police said the four victims were travelling in a car after attending a court hearing. The assailants intercepted the car and opened fire. As a result, all of them died on the spot. The suspects managed to escape the crime scene in the panic which followed the shooting said a police spokesperson. The deceased were identified as Riaz, Mustafa, Abbas and Sajjad.

RPO Syed Khurram Ali took notice of the incident and ordered the immediate arrest of the suspects. According to the police report, four persons were shot dead by unidentified persons in day time near Allah Warai Chowk. Kahror Pakka police reached the spot after receiving the information.

Forensic teams also reached the spot. Various police teams have also been formed while it is reported that the four victims were on their way home after appearing in court when suddenly unidentified persons started firing near Allah Warai Chowk.

Sources said that a citizen also made a video during the firing on the victims which has been handed over to the local police. The killing of four men in broad daylight spread panic among the citizens.

Due to the increasing incidents in the district, the citizens have started feeling insecure. Citizens have expressed concern over the increasing incidents to IG Punjab Police and RPO Multan. Talking to DPO, he said that the accused will not be left under any circumstances. Forensic teams are gathering evidence. Police claim that the killers will be identified soon.

Earlier this year, five people were gunned down over a family dispute when the culprit opened fire on his in-laws to settle a marriage dispute.

At least five people were killed during a firing incident in the Kotli Sian area in January 2021. Police said a man deranged over a family dispute also opened fire at his in-laws. As a result of the firing, five persons died on the spot. The culprit fled the crime scene and police started to search for him.

In a similar incident on September 30 last year, in a bid to seize property and money, an elderly man was allegedly murdered by his daughter-in-law and grandson in Faisalabad.

Reportedly, 85-year-old Basheer Ahmed, son of Imamuddin, lived with his son Nadeem Abbas in Iqbal Tow in Ghulam Muhammadabad. The grandson of the deceased, identified as Waseem Abbas, wanted to seize his grandfather’s property and bank balance.

On July 14 last year, a man shot dead his brother-in-law and injured two other family members over a domestic dispute. The accused was deranged after he was warned by his in-laws to not beat his wife.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2021.