Three shot dead in armed clash in Lahore

Argument between two groups over minor issue led to violent conflict with three dead

LAHORE:

At least three persons were shot dead and three others sustained injuries in an incident of firing between two groups in Shah Alam Market on a minor issue.

According to the police report, the shopkeepers, on a self-help basis, were busy in collection of money, around Rs2,000 from each shop, for the renovation of the street.

However, Bara Market General Secretary (GS) Atif Qureshi and Shah Alam Markets Board Vice President (VP) Chaudhry Zubair had an altercation over the issue. They exchanged harsh words with each other.

The conflict escalated, as a result of which both the parties resorted to violence and also pulled out guns.

During firing, the Bara Market GS, the markets board VP and a vendor named Boota died on the spot. The injured had been identified as Tahir, Imran and Irfan.

The brother of the deceased Atif alleged that the suspects Intazar Hussain Lodhi and Taimoor Hussain shot dead his brother over refusal to pay ‘extortion’. The incident created panic in the locality.

On receiving information of the incident, heavy contingent of police rushed to the crime scene.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had taken notice of the incident and asked the authorities concerned to submit a report.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2021.