Police inaction: Villagers protest against youth’s murder

Mumtaz Ahmad, a resident of Chak 114-GB, was shot dead in Faisalabad Town

FAISALABAD: Dozens of people from Chak No114-GB staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday against Jaranwala City police for not taking action to trace a murder.

The demonstrators gathered at Nankana-Buchiana Road and blocked it by putting the body on the road. They also chanted slogans against police.

Talking to reporters, Allah Rakha, one of the protesters, said that Mumtaz Ahmad, a resident of Chak 114-GB, had gone to see his sister in Faisalabad Town, Jaranwala. “He was shot dead by gunmen on Monday. We filed a complaint with police. However, they have not taken any action against the killers,” he said.

The Jaranwala DSP talked to the protesters and assured them that action would be taken against the killers. The protesters dispersed following the assurance.

The Jaranwala City SHO said that a case had been registered. “A team has been formed to investigate the crime and arrest the killers,” he said.

Separately, Zareef Khan, a resident of Khalsa College locality, said on Tuesday that police were planning to kill his four sons in a fake encounter. The four were taken into custody on Saturday. Police told the media that Saqib, Asif, Jahangir and Nafees were target killers.

“Police want to kill my sons having branded them hitmen. My sons are not assassins. Saqib is a watchman at a private school and Asif a naib qasid in a government school. Jahangir and Nafees used to work at former SHO Rana Farrukh Waheed’s house,” he said.

According to police, Waheed, wanted for 11 murders, has escaped abroad. An anti terrorism court has issued red warrants for him.

“Nafees and Jahangir worked as domestic help at Waheed’s house. They were paid Rs15,000 per month. They were arrested by police to hide their failure to arrest Waheed,” Khan said.

“A police official told me that they were making arrangements to kill my sons. I have filed a petition in a court for their protection,” Khan said.

He appealed to the Punjab chief minister and inspector general of police to ensure his sons were protected.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2015.