LAHORE(National Times)- In what appeared to be targeted attacks, some armed men allegedly shot dead two policemen in Badami Bagh area and one at Yateem Khana Chowk, Multan Road, besides injuring three on Thursday night.
The officials martyred were identified as Sub-Inspector Adeel Ashiq and constable Asad.
Heavy police contingents reached the sites along with senior police officers who put the entire force on high alert and ordered massive search operations to round up the attackers.
According to initial police inquiries, the first armed attack was carried out by a hardened and desperate criminal, Rehan Butt, and his accomplices in the Badami Bagh area. The armed men opened fire on two policemen and fled the scene, leaving them critically injured.
A police official said apparently the incident seems to be an act of Rehan Butt in revenge for his brother, Faizan Butt, who was allegedly killed in an encounter with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) a few years back.
He said the SI Adeel was part of the CTD team which killed Faizan in the encounter.
Faizan was reportedly working for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and he was involved in the killing of some police officials, the police official said.
He said Adeel and Asad suffered critical injuries which later proved to be fatal.
He said Adeel had brought the matter to the notice of the police high-ups in 2024 that he was receiving life threats from Rehan Butt.
Following his complaint, an FIR was lodged against Rehan in November 2024 with Shafiqabad police.
According to the FIR, Adeel had alleged that he had received a WhatsApp call from Rehan who hurled life threats on him. He stated that Rehan alleged that he (Adeel) was part of the CTD team which killed his brother Faizan in an encounter and threatened him that he (Adeel) would also meet the same fate.
TLP: An hour later, some armed men allegedly targeted policemen deployed at the headquarters of a banned outfit (Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan) on Multan Road and opened indiscriminate firing.
Resultantly, as per the reports, three constables, including Haris, and a passerby sustained injuries while the attackers managed to escape.
Haris later succumbed to his injuries.
The police command suspected that the second attack may also be carried out by Rehan and his accomplices.
About the Badami Bagh incident, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said a police team had raided the residence of Rehan following a secret information that he was present at his home. He said SI Adeel was leading the raiding party.
The DIG said Rehan and his armed men resorted to massive firing on the police team and fled the scene leaving Adeel and Asad injured critically.
He confirmed that Rehan’s brother Faizan was a member of the banned militant organisation TTP and he was allegedly killed in an encounter with the CTD Punjab some years back.
