Pigeon Holed: 1 killed, 2 injured during panchayat hearing

Chak No 452 GB residents had complained that notables in their village had been stealing their pigeons.

FAISALABAD:

One person was killed after a local panchayat turned violent and one of the parties opened indiscriminate fire. According to police officials, the incident took place on Saturday in the Tandlianwala Sadar Police Station precincts. Police officials said that Chak No 452 GB residents Shahid Iqbal and Zahid Iqbal had complained that notables in their village had been stealing their pigeons.

Upon this complaint, a panchayat was called and both the parties were asked to present their case. During the proceedings panchayat members Waqqas, Jamshed and Husain began abusing Shahid and Zahid.  Hussain and Mohsin opened indiscriminate fire and Shahid, Zahid and Aurangzeb sustained serious bullet injures.  The men were rushed to the Tandlianwala Teshil Hospital, where Zahid died. Panchayat members overpower Jamshed Iqbal and took him into custody and handed his weapon to the police. District Superintendent Police (DSP) Farooq Gondal reached  the spot has taken Iqbal into custody. “A case has been registered. The panchayat was called because the brothers’ pigeons had been stolen but the bigger issue is the firing during a panchayat,” he said. Police have registered a case against the accused under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2011.