Suspects involved in life attempt on MPA Bilal Yaseen arrested

The duo was caught in a raid on a hideout and will be produced in the court on Thursday, according to police

LAHORE:

Police have claimed the arrest of the duo involved in shooting at and injuring Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member of the provincial assembly Bilal Yaseen, saying they will be produced in the court on Thursday (today) for an identity parade.

The alleged shooters, identified as Sajid and Fakhar Alam, were nabbed in a raid on a hideout located in Shahdara.

They were caught in a covert operation after at least 10 raids in various areas of the city, with at least 16 teams of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) working on the case.

Furthermore, a police spokesperson said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Inspector General (IG) Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan were directly monitoring the progress into the case.

Also read: CCTV images of suspects in Bilal Yaseen attack case surface

During the investigation, it was revealed the suspects were under the influence of methamphetamine, also known as ice.

While fleeing from the scene, they had, accidentally or consciously, dropped a handgun a few yards away, which proved to be the first clue to backtrack and reach the alleged shooters.

The dropped weapon was an imported, Turkish-model new handgun. Police searched for its dealer and found that it had been purchased from an ammunition seller from Neela Gunbad, New Anarkali.

Sajid worked at a duty-free shop and also dealt in arms while Alam also had an arms dealing outlet in the said market. The former had sold out the gun on the instructions of the former and went into hiding after switching off his phone when the police called him to be included in the probe.

Also read: Gun seller held in Yaseen case

Police are exploring further aspects of the case, such as a possible conflict and involvement of any other suspects in the matter.

On January 1, the PML-N lawmaker was shot at in the Punjab capital by the assailants riding a motorcycle, and received bullet wounds on the leg and abdomen, according to the FIR registered.

Yaseen was fired upon after he visited a party worker in the Data Darbar area of the city. He was rushed to the Lahore Mayo Hospital.