Firing incident near Rawalpindi: Relatives say will approach PM Imran for justice

RAWALPINDI: The relatives of nine individuals killed in a firing incident in Chauntra on Friday said today that they will approach Prime Minister Imran Khan for justice.

Meanwhile, police said they had arrested two suspects and recovered weapons from them after a search operation was launched soon after an exchange of fire between two rival groups that left nine dead, all women and children.

Police said that their search operation is still underway to nab the main suspect and his aides, who have been on the run since the incident.

The relatives of the deceased spoke to Geo News to say that the suspects had barged into their home and opened fire, killing nine people.

“We will not bury the dead until we receive justice,” they said, alleging that the suspects had been hired for the hit.

“If we do not get justice, we will protest at Kachehri Chowk,” they said.

Post-mortem of bodies

Meanwhile, hospital sources disclosed that the post-mortem of most of the bodies has been carried out, while one is still in progress.

Police said that after the post-mortem of all nine bodies, they will be handed over to the relatives for burial.

Three wounded children are also receiving treatment at District Hospital Rawalpindi.

The funeral prayers of the deceased will be held in their Mayal village in the presence of police personnel.

Firing incident

On Friday, an exchange of fire was reported between two groups near the Chauntra police station, which left nine dead, including women and children, and a three-year-old girl injured, police had said.

Five women and four children had died when members of an armed group barged into their house and opened indiscriminate fire. The children were aged between 1 and 3 years old, police said.

Police claim that the incident was the fallout of an old rivalry.

Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had ordered the City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi to submit a report in this regard.

The chief minister had ordered that the culprits involved be arrested as soon as possible. "Action will be taken against those involved," he promised.