Trade leader, brother shot dead in Pindi

RAWALPINDI: A trader leader and his brother were shot dead by a motorcyclist on Railway Road in Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi, police said, in an attack that investigators believe may be linked to an earlier dispute over a road accident case.

According to police officials, Malik Mehboob, vice president of the Gujar Khan Anjuman-e-Tajran, was sitting at his grocery wholesale shop with his brother Malik Mehmood when an armed man arrived on a motorcycle, took out a pistol and opened fire. Both men suffered critical injuries and died shortly afterwards, while the attacker escaped from the scene.

Police said the shooting took place within the limits of Gujar Khan police station. The bodies were shifted to hospital for postmortem examination, while investigators collected evidence from the site. Operation SSP Malik Tariq Mehboob and other police officials visited the scene as part of the inquiry.

Police link attack to earlier dispute

A police spokesperson said initial findings suggested the killings were likely carried out over resentment related to a case registered after a previous car accident. Police officials said Malik Mehboob had earlier been involved in an accident with a car belonging to a man identified as Naseer, who was said to have been posted in the Revenue Department.

A case had been registered by Mehboob against Naseer. Naseer and others had wanted a settlement in the matter, but Mehboob and his associates were unwilling to reconcile. Police believe the dispute had become a source of tension between the two sides.

Police further said the young man suspected of shooting the brothers was reportedly named Moazzam. They said further investigation was under way and vowed to arrest the accused soon.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani took notice of the double killing, according to the police.

Separate fire incident in Ganj Mandi

In another incident reported from Rawalpindi, a 28-year-old man died in a fire at a stationery warehouse in Karwan Plaza in the Ganj Mandi area.

The deceased was identified as Safiullah, a worker who had been sleeping inside the warehouse when the blaze broke out. He died from smoke inhalation.

Rescue firefighters responded to the incident and brought the fire under control.

The two incidents were reported separately, with one involving a targeted double shooting in Gujar Khan and the other a fatal warehouse fire in Ganj Mandi.