Six killed, three injured in ambush

Victims from same family include prisoner released in morning

BHAWALPUR:

At least six people were killed and three others injured when armed motorcyclists ambushed their vehicle in Ahmedpur East on Saturday.

The deceased, who belonged to the same family, included a man released from jail in the morning.

The attackers managed to flee from the spot. The van carrying the victims was attacked in the Mohabbatpur area of Bahawalpur district.

The bodies and injured were shifted to the tehsil headquarters hospital by a Rescue 1122 team.

As soon as the incident was reported, a police contingent reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

Those killed were identified as 35-year-old Muhammad Shahid, son of Allah Wasaya, 40-year-old Irshad, son of Jumma Khan, 30-year-old Waris, son of Abdul Razzaq, 60-year-old Mohammad Nawaz, son of Kareem Bakhsh, 28-year-old Saeed, son of Ramzan, and 42-yearold Akmal, son of Kareem Bukhsh. They were residents of Tibbi Dhakwan.

The attack left injured 48-year-old Ajmal, son of Kareem Bukhsh, a resident of Rasheedabad, who was shot in the chest, 40-year-old Iqbal, son of Allah Diwaya, a resident of Tibbu Dhakwan, who was shot in the shoulder and wrist, and 36-yearold Mohammad Aziz, son of Khuda Bukhsh, a resident of Basti Chal Bhattian, who was shot in the abdomen and thigh.

According to the police, the attack seemed to be motivated by enmity.

They said the area around the spot where the attack took place had been cordoned off and raids are being carried out at various places to find the murderers.

Ahmadpur East Saddar police said the bodies had been shifted to THQ hospital and the injured were also being treated there.

Local sources said the deceased Irshad had spent a year in the central jail in a murder case. He was going to his relatives' home after being released. Roadside ambushes have occurred in Punjab before.

In April 2022, four individuals were killed by unknown accused who fired upon them from a car.

Two of the victims died at the scene, while the other two succumbed to their wounds after being shifted to hospital. According to police, the victims reportedly had enmity with the suspects.