Man set on fire in Faisalabad over extortion

FAISALABAD: A man was set on fire by unknown assailants after he allegedly refused to pay extortion, police said.

Zafar, a resident of Gurunanak, was riding bike when four men stopped him on Canal Road. The unknown men set him on fire after dousing him with petrol.

Rescue sources said Zafar, who jumped into a canal to extinguish the fire, was taken to the Allied Hospital with burn injuries. Hospital sources said the inured is in stable condition.

Zafar told police that he had been paying extortion to Bilal and his comrades for many years and upon his refusal the group tried to kill him.

The police said they have launched an investigation into the matter.