LAHORE: A youngster was killed and seven others were badly injured when four armed men opened fire on Christians who were returning from an Easter service on Sunday. Irshad Masih, 22, and his friends Pervaiz Masih, Naeem Masih and Ismail Masih, along with other Christians, were going home when Mukhtar Dogar, Zulfiqar Dogar and two accomplices opened fire on them in the Sattokatala police jurisdiction, police said. Irshad, a resident of Khamba village, had a dispute with Dogar's family over six kanals of land. Both parties had scuffled several times before and a case had also been registered in the court.The injured were taken to Jinnah Hospital where the doctors pronounced Irshad Masih dead. The others are in critical condition. Irshad's body has been given for an autopsy and police have registered a case on his father's complaint Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool, advisor to the chief minister, visited Jinnah Hospital and inquired about the health of the injured. He directed the hospital administration to provide them free medical treatment. He said the government has taken note of the incident and no stone would be left unturned for the punishment of the culprits.
Rasool said that the government is taking stringent measures for the protection of citizens, especially those belonging to minorities. He expressed grief at the death of Irshad. The police informed Rasool that two suspects have been apprehended and the other two would be arrested soon. He ordered the station house officer (SHO) of Sattokatla Police Station to immediately arrest the remaining suspects.