PAKPATTAN: Members of a local gang allegedly patronised by an influential political family set fire to a passenger bus here on Monday after the driver refused to pay them Rs200 extortion money.
The incident took place on Chowk Jamal where Khagga and Dogar groups are reportedly involved in extorting Rs200 from every passenger bus making a stopover there.
According to sources, the two groups have been collecting extortion from passenger buses while police has played the role of silent spectator in spite of repeated complaints filed by the transporters.
They alleged that Tariq Khagga, who is a member of Khagga group, is the cousin of a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly.
Sources said that passengers travelling on the ill-fated bus jumped out of the vehicle to save their lives when the gangsters were setting it alight.