Lahore: Allama Nasir Abbas killed; protest outside Governor House

LAHORE: A leader of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Allama Nasir Abbas Multani was shot dead by unknown assailants in a drive-by shooting near the Ferozpur Road underpass in the Muslim Town police precincts late on Sunday night.

However, driver Munawar and Allama’s companion Najamul Hassan remained unhurt. The victim was rushed to Sheikh Zayed Hospital by his driver in the same vehicle but he was pronounced dead by doctors.

The CCPO Lahore said apparently it was an incident of target killing. However, no case was registered till the filing of the report.

A senior police officer said Allama Nasir reached Qaumi Markaz Khwajgan in Shadman to deliver a speech at around 9pm. He left the Markaz for home at around 10:30 pm in his white Corolla car (YD-133).

The Allama was sitting on the front seat along with his driver while his companion was sitting on the back seat. The car was moving on the Canal Road towards Campus bridge. As it crossed the Ferozpur Road underpass, two armed bikers intercepted the car from front side and sprayed bullets on Allama Nasir Abbas.

Allama’s friend and driver were unhurt and the attackers fled the scene. The windowpanes of the car were smashed while car was also damaged from the front during the attack.

Doctors said the victim and received bullet injuries on his head, face and neck which claimed his life on the spot.

Soon after the incident, police investigators reached the scene and in hospital, collected evidence from the spot and car, respectively. They also recorded statements of eyewitnesses.

A police investigator said they had collected empties from the crime scene which would be sent to forensic lab for tests. He said the modus operandi of killers implied that it was a targeted killing and they were trained to operate sophisticated weapons.

The news of the killing of Allama Nasir spread like a jungle fire and a large number of activists of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) reached the hospital and registered their strong protest. They chanted slogans against the government and demanded immediate arrest of killers.

Heavy contingents of police reached the hospital and held dialogue with protesters. Police promised that killers would be arrested soon.

However, the protesters refused to hand over the body to police for autopsy and said the body would be placed in front of the Governor’s House till the arrest of killers. The protest was underway till the filing of this report.

A couple of weeks back, provincial chief of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat was killed in a similar attack in the Ravi Road police precincts. Police have yet to arrest the killers of Shams-ur-Rehman Moawiya.

In a statement issued, Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has condemned the killing of Allama Nasir Abbas in the strongest of words.

"Allama Nasir Abbas's murder is highly deplorable and tragic", he said in his statement.