Scholar shot in madrassa passes away

A religious scholar injured in a madrassa in Shadiwal died at a hospital on Sunday.

Police said Maulana Talha Rizvi was at the madrassa when armed men entered the premises and opened fire on him, leaving him critically injured.

He was shifted to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Police registered an FIR against four nominated suspects, Muhammad Usman of Loharanwalia, Qari Aslam, Rehan Aslam and Qasim Shah, on the basis of a statement recorded by the victim before his death.

Citing preliminary investigation, the police said that about a year ago, Asif Shah, the father of suspect Qasim had died and Qari Aslam had led his funeral prayers.

The police said Maulana Talha had objected over the matter. Subsequently, suspect Usman had allegedly contacted Maulana Talha from Dubai and threatened him.

The police have formed teams to arrest the suspects. The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem examination.

In another incident, police registered a case against 13 people for allegedly preventing the funeral prayers and burial of a two-year-old boy at a cemetery in Kallrah Panwan.

According to the police, Ahmed Mahmood,son of Faisal, a resident of Nai Abadi, had died of natural causes.