Man shot dead on way to court

MULTAN: A 22-year-old man was shot dead in Kabirwala while travelling to attend a court hearing, with police and the victim’s family linking the killing to a long-running tribal dispute.

The deceased was identified as Mursaleen Tayyab Hanjra. According to police and family members, he was attacked near Jhandeer Kassi within the limits of Nawan Shehr Police Station. They said more than eight armed men allegedly lay in wait for him and opened fire with Kalashnikovs and rifles, leaving him critically wounded.

The assailants fled towards the Mamdal area after the shooting. Family members called Rescue 1122, but Mursaleen Tayyab died of his injuries before medical help could reach him.

Case registered

Police registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s father, Muhammad Tayyab Hanjra. The FIR names Muhammad Hanif Kartwana, Muhammad Asif Kartwana, Muhammad Kashif Kartwana, Qaiser, Sagheer Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq and Muhammad Bilal, along with other unidentified accomplices.

The killing is said to be connected to an old feud between the Hanjra and Kartwana communities in the Head Sardar Pur area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sarai Sidhu Police Station in the Kabirwala police circle.

Protest outside hospital

After the shooting, members of the Hanjra community staged a protest on Multan Road outside the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Kabirwala, placing the body there during the demonstration. The protest continued for about two hours, disrupted traffic and drew a large number of people.

Protesters raised slogans against DSP Kabirwala Chaudhry Munawar Gujjar and the SHO of Sarai Sidhu Police Station, accusing police of failing to move against proclaimed offenders allegedly linked to the rival group. Relatives of the victim said wanted suspects regularly remained present in the residential localities of Muhammad Pur Nasheb and Sardar Pur despite police allegedly knowing where they were.

The family alleged that the killing could have been prevented if law enforcement had acted in time. The victim’s mother and other relatives were seen grieving during the protest and demanded the immediate arrest of those nominated in the case.

The family also appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Inspector General of Police Punjab to ensure the arrest of the accused and to take action against officials they blamed for negligence. Police said an investigation was under way and efforts were being made to apprehend the suspects named in the case.