Four shot dead near toll plaza in suspected revenge attack

MULTAN: Four men were killed on Monday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle near the Khanewal Toll Plaza in what police suspect was a targeted assault linked to an old feud.

Police and relatives identified the deceased as cousins Majeed Khan Niazi and Ismail Khan Niazi, along with Hidayatullah Mahar and his nephew Zakaullah Mahar, all residents of village 30-10-R. According to police and family members, they were travelling to attend proceedings in a case before a local court when their vehicle was attacked.

The men were said to be heading to the court of an Additional District and Sessions Judge in connection with a case registered at Kacha Khoh police station. The shooting took place near the 84-10-R crossing close to the Khanewal Toll Plaza.

Attack near crossing

Witnesses told police that the assailants arrived in a car and on three motorcycles, boxed in the victims' vehicle and fired at it from several sides. The occupants suffered critical injuries during the attack.

After the shooting, the bullet-hit vehicle kept moving for some distance before crashing into a water tank outside a tyre shop. Local residents said all four men died of their injuries shortly after the incident.

District Police Officer Khanewal Muhammad Abid Warraich, DSP Sadar Saeed Sial, rescue teams and other police personnel reached the scene after receiving information. The bodies were later shifted to hospital for post-mortem examination.

Case registered

According to the FIR lodged at City Police Station Khanewal on the complaint of the victims' relatives, one suspect, Faisal Shah, has been named in the case, while seven unidentified accomplices have also been booked. The complainants alleged that the shooting was the result of a longstanding rivalry and said Faisal Shah had previously been wanted in murder cases.

Speaking to the media, DPO Muhammad Abid Warraich said forensic specialists had gathered evidence from the scene, including spent bullet casings. He added that CCTV footage from nearby locations was also being reviewed.

The DPO said multiple police teams had been formed to arrest those involved and said investigators were confident the suspects would be taken into custody soon.