Four of a family gunned down after wedding party
Gulzar was gunned down in Khazana on Sunday night. PHOTO: STOCK IMAGE
Three people were charged under anti-terrorism, murder and other provisions over the murder of four members of a family returning from a marriage ceremony in Baghbanpura.
The prime suspect, identified as Salman, was reportedly frustrated after divorcing his wife, Kiran, who was killed in the ambush. Salman’s five-year-old daughter was also injured in the attack.
On Saturday night, he allegedly intercepted the family when they were returning from a marriage ceremony in Al Khalid Town. Salman and his accomplices allegedly opened fire, striking his ex-wife Kiran, her siblings, her parents and daughter. Kiran, her sister and her parents died at the scene. Three others, including the five-year-old girl, sustained bullet injuries. The suspects fled the scene after the incident.
The deceased have been identified as 22-year-old Abdullah Mehboob, 55-year-old Mehboob Sadiq, 20-year-old Tayyaba Mehboob and 24-year-old Kiran, while the injured have been identified as 50-year-old Taj Bibi, 35-year-old Farah Bibi and 5-year-old Horeen Salman.
The injured were shifted to Lahore Services Hospital while the bodies of the deceased persons were moved to morgue for autopsy.
Upon receiving information of the incident, a contingent of police rushed to the spot and collected forensic evidence and recorded statements from eyewitnesses. A case has been registered against the suspects.
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However police was yet to arrest them. IG Punjab Usman Anwar took notice of the incident and sought a report from CCPO Lahore.
Police said that they had collected CCTV footage from the crime scene to track down the suspect’s movement and were using different sources to trace their movements.
Initial investigations suggested that the suspect, after allegedly firing a volley of bullets at the victims’ car, allegedly dragged Kiran out of the vehicle and shot her at point blank range. He had also kicked her body before leaving the scene.
In a separate incident earlier this week, five people who had been sitting at their dera in Chung were shot dead by a close relative over a property dispute.
Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the murder and sought a report from the Inspector General of Police.
The CM expressed his heartfelt sympathy and condolences with the family members of the victims and demanded the provision of justice to the grief-stricken family, along with providing the best medical treatment facilities to the injured.
The CM additionally ordered the relevant officials to ensure observance of SOPs in the marriage halls.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2023.