Motive unclear: Two gunned down

SHO rules out any sectarian motive.

RAWALPINDI:

Two shopkeepers were gunned down while three passersby injured when unknown motorcyclists attacked a shop in the jurisdiction of Bani Police Station on Friday.

The police said five unknown armed persons riding motorcycles stopped outside a shop, dealing in material exclusively used for Majalis, in Purana Qila owned by Ramzan and Faisal alias Sunny and opened fire on them, leaving Ramzan dead on the spot while Sunny died in the hospital.

Three persons identified as Umer Ali and Fareed and another person whose name could not be ascertained were injured and shifted to District Headquarters Hospital.

“The assailants resorted to warning shots before and after committing the crime that created panic in the area,” said Muhammad Awais, an onlooker.

A police official said six attackers riding on three motorcycles and holding sophisticated weapons carried out the attack.

“The deceased have neither enmity nor received any threats,” said Asif Ali, a local, adding that though they would sell material for Majalis but belonged to the Sunni sect.

Due to Friday, most of the shops were closed providing the assailants a chance to attack and then escape without any resistance.

“They were holding sophisticated weapons and were covering each other to avoid any resistance,” said Raja Latif, an eye witness.

Hospital sources confirmed that the three injured are stable.

A police contingent rushed to site and shifted the bodies and injured to District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital for autopsy and medical treatment.

SHO Nadim Zafar ruled out any sectarian motive behind the incident. Police were investigating the murder from various angles, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2014.