Violent incidents claim four lives in Gujrat

Student brutally beaten up by his classmates to death

GUJRAT:

Over the past two days, four people were killed and two individuals, including a woman, were severely injured in a string of violent incidents in the city.

In the first incident, Shahbaz Shafeeq, a 27-year-old resident of Borra, was fatally shot by Asad Iftikhar and three other assailants in the jurisdiction of Police Station A division. The accused intercepted Shahbaz and fled the scene after carrying out the act of violence. The police transferred Shahbaz's body to the hospital and initiated an investigation.

A case, numbered 148/23 under sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (TP), was registered based on a complaint filed by Umar Shafqat, the deceased's cousin, against Asad Iftikhar, a resident of Borra Piyara, Zain ul Aabdeen of Tariq Abad, and an unidentified person.

The police, after completing the necessary legal procedures, handed over Shahbaz's body to his grieving relatives. The police said the motive behind the killing was a personal conflict that escalated when Shahbaz was on his way to the gymnasium.

In the second incident, a heated argument erupted between Sadaqat Ali and Tauseef Anwer in Kharian, a tehsil of Gujrat. Following the altercation, Sadaqat Ali traveled to Gunja village to meet his friend Mohsin Abbas.

However, Tauseef Anwer arrived at the location accompanied by armed individuals named Mian Hamza, Anees Anwer, Ali Raza, Qari Safdar, and others on three motorcycles. They opened fire, claiming the lives of Mohsin Abbas Shah and Sadaqat Ali, both residents of Gunja village. Additionally, Ataur Rehman and his mother sustained injuries during the incident and were immediately transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

The Kharian Saddar Police Station registered a case, numbered 388/23 under sections 302, 452, 324, 109, 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, against six identified accused and three unidentified individuals. Following the necessary legal procedures, the police handed over the bodies of the deceased to their grieving families.

In the third incident, a 15-year-old student named Hashim Raza was killed by fellow students with whom he had a dispute a few days prior. Hashim Raza, a resident of Noor Pur East, encountered the perpetrators at Abdullah Shopping Mall, located near the Civil Line Police Station.

After a few days, they crossed paths again at Joyland, where the students subjected Hashim to severe physical assault, ultimately leading to his demise.

The Civil Line Police Station registered a case, numbered 578/23 under sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, against two students of class X.

The staff of the shopping mall apprehended both accused individuals and handed them over to the police. The police transferred Hashim Raza's body to the District Headquarter Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2023.