ASWJ holds protest demonstrations against leader killing in Lahore

LAHORE: Up to 500 enraged protestors belonging to the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jammat (ASWJ) gathered in the central Anarkali neighbourhood Friday evening and burnt tyres to protest murder of party’s provincial chief Shamsur Rehman Muawiya.

Muawiya was killed in a drive-by shooting which took place as he travelled by car to the northern Harbans Pura neighbourhood.

"We ordered shops in and around Anarkali area to be closed in order to prevent any loss to public property as the demonstrators got violent," police said.

"Two gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire on Muawiya´s vehicle, wounding him and his driver critically," senior local police official, Rana Abdul Jabbar, told AFP.

He said Muawiya and his driver were rushed to hospital where the ASWJ provincial chief died of his bullet wounds.

Protest demonstrations were also held in other parts of Lahore, according to media reports.