An identified assailant killed two brothers accused of murder in an Additional District and Sessions judge’s courtroom in the Islampura police precincts early on Saturday. Residents of Karim Park Imran Iqbal Butt, 30, and Zeeshan Iqbal Butt, 29, were nominated in a murder case registered in Shadbagh Police Station for allegedly killing Malik Nadeem on May 8 2011 over an old enmity. They had later secured pre-arrest bail from the court.
On Saturday, both were present in the courtroom of Additional District and Sessions Judge Haji Ahmed for extending their bail. Eyewitnesses claim both brothers were due to report to the courtroom at 8 am. They arrived in the courtroom accompanied by around 20 persons. An eyewitness said that at 8:05 am, with bail proceedings in progress, a man stood up, took out a pistol and opened fire on the brothers. “Imran and Zeeshan were standing in the witness box when he opened fire,” he added.
About twelve or thirteen bullets were shot and they sustained multiple bullet wounds, he said. Imran died instantly while Zeeshan succumbed to his bullet injuries on way to hospital. In a lawyer’s dress: An eyewitness claimed the attacker dressed as a lawyer and hid the murder weapon in an advocate’s envelope. He said two policemen were in the courtroom when the incident occurred but neither came forward to arrest the murderer.
He further said Judge Haji Ahmad himself hid under the table to save his life while the courtroom reader and others present in the courtroom lay on the floor. Bullet holes were observed on walls while the witness box was also damaged. An offer to surrender: The killer was reported to have offered to surrender himself by putting down his 30-bore pistol but no one came forward to arrest him and he fled the crime scene through the judge’s chamber after leaving his pistol and live bullets behind.
Upon hearing the bullet shots, security personnel outside the courtroom rushed to the scene and called for reinforcements. CCPO Malik Ahmad Raza Tahir, DIG Operations Rao Sardar Ali Khan and SP City Dr Shahzad Asif arrived with a heavy contingent of police and cordoned the court premises’ off. Lahore Police investigators collected forensic evidence from the crime scene, recorded eyewitness statements and removed the bodies to the morgue for autopsy. Police also took into custody session court’s security incharge Iqbal Ahmed and naib court for interrogation.
Courtroom shut: Following the incident, judges closed the doors of their courtrooms and stopped court proceedings. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jahangir arrived with senior lawyers and inspected the crime scene. The CCPO Lahore said the killer has been identified and would be arrested soon. He also promised to establish a police check-post at the District and Sessions Courts. SCBA President Asma Jahangir called the incident a security failure and demanded foolproof security. Later, a meeting between top police officials and a delegation of lawyers including SCBA President Asma Jahangir, the Lahore Bar Association president took place where lawyers were ensured high security.
