PTI leader alleges former PML-N MPA Khadim’s guards opened fire, Khadim says his guards fired in retaliation
Jhelum police arrested three men suspected of opening fire and injuring nine Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers making their way to a PTI rally in Jhelum on Sunday. A local PTI leader has blamed a former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader for the attack but the PML-N leader has denied the allegations.
The injured – two of whom were in critical condition – were rushed to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Jhelum.
Aqeel Ahmed, a technician at the emergency ward said that one person in critical condition, who sustained a bullet injury in the chest, was shifted to another hospital as DHQ Jhelum did not have the facilities to treat him.
Ahmed said that the remaining injured activists had sustained injuries in the lower limbs.
The incident took place in Bani Gharmala area, about five kilometres away from the Syed Zameer Jaffery Stadium Jhelum — the venue set for the PTI’s rally on Sunday — when large numbers of PTI workers were en route to the stadium.
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from the Jhelum District Police Officer (DPO) over the incident.
Following the incident, a large number of PTI activists gathered outside the hospital where the injured had been taken.
PML-N DENIES PTI ALLEGATIONS:
PTI’s local leader Nadeem Afzal Bhatti claimed that the rally was fired upon by guards of Chaudhry Nadeem Khadim, a former PML-N MPA.
Speaking to television channels, Ijaz Chaudhry claimed that a former member of Punjab Assembly was involved in the firing incident which occurred as PTI supporters, chanting slogans, passed through the Khadim’s area.
Speaking to various news channels, Khadim strongly denied Ijaz’s allegations. He said that his gunmen – who were few in number – opened fire in defence after 50 to 60 armed PTI supporters opened fire at his farmhouse some seven kilometres away from the site of PTI’s rally.
He said his Jhelum residence was near Syed Zameer Jafry Stadium and he had voluntarily closed it to avoid any untoward incident but PTI activists targeted his farmhouse instead.
“There is no road leading to y farmhouse. The PTI activists reached it after passing through fields,” alleged Khadim, adding that the gun shots also hit the neighbouring houses.
THREE SUSPECTS ARRESTED:
Meanwhile, three men suspected of opening fire on the PTI’s rally in Jhelum were arrested on Sunday, according to police reports.
According to sources, Saddar police apprehended the suspects a few hours after the firing incident. The suspects were identified as Nasir, Talat and Tauseef.
The PTI’s Jhelum rally was part of a series of rallies announces by PTI Chairman Imran Khan earlier this month as part of his campaign to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against the backdrop of his party’s rigging allegations in the last year’s historic elections.
