Daylight attack kills one, injures another
In a display of brazen violence, two armed assailants murdered one person and injured another in broad daylight near the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred in a high-security zone teeming with armed police personnel, has sent shockwaves through the city and exposed serious security lapses.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a police official said one suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting, which occurred due to a dispute between two private housing societies. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
According to the police sources, the shooting incident that took place Wednesday is the result of an old enmity. Some time ago, the Daniyal group had killed a young man in a shooting at a private housing society function in Gujar Khan. In retaliation, armed members of the rival group opened fire, killing Raja Daniyal Iqbal, while another person, identified as the slain man's gunman Asim, was severely injured and transferred to Benazir Bhutto Hospital.
Despite the presence of numerous police officers and the proximity to the Commissioner's office, the Deputy Commissioner's residence, and the Anti-Terrorism Court, the assailants were able to execute the attack with chilling ease.
This incident marks the fifth such attack in the area within the past year, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of the judicial complex and its surrounding areas.
Adding to the dismay, it was revealed that many of the CCTV cameras installed in the area were non-functional, severely hampering the investigation.
The Rawalpindi District Bar Association, in a strongly worded statement, condemned the incident and demanded immediate action against those responsible for the security lapses.
"This is a complete failure of the security system," said Sardar Manzar Bashir, President of the District Bar Association. "The malfunctioning CCTV cameras and the apparent lack of police preparedness are unacceptable. We demand a thorough investigation and the immediate strengthening of security measures in the area."
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of high-profile individuals, particularly those involved in sensitive cases. The area witnesses frequent movement of high-profile personalities, including those involved in the May 9 riots. At the time of the incident, the hearing of the May 9 tragedy and the GHQ attack case was taking place in the Adiala Jail instead of the court, which resulted in less crowding in this area. Both the deceased and the injured had come to the court to obtain pre-arrest bail in a murder case, and they were caught in a barrage of gunfire in front of the court gate. The assailants had parked their vehicle in front of the gate of the Potohar SP's office and had ambushed the area from there.
The District Bar Association has demanded that all malfunctioning CCTV cameras be repaired immediately and that a comprehensive security audit be conducted. They have also urged the authorities to deploy additional security personnel in the area and implement stricter security protocols.