RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League leader, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was injured while 4 people were killed in the firing incident at the election office of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Monday.

There were about 15 people present in the office when unidentified men attacked the election office of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed located in the area of Khayaban Sir Syed at Pir Wadhai police station. The sources confirmed SAMAA that four people were killed while two others injured in the firing incident. Two security guards of Sheikh Rasheed and two Awami Muslim League's workers were also killed in the gun attack.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was returning back from his election office when a group of four unidentified gunmen opened fire on him. Hospital sources informed that Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed’s condition is out of danger. Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed suffered injuries in his foot when he fell on the ground while trying to escape from the gunshots. Sheikh Rasheed’s driver told SAMAA that there were four people seated on two motorcycles who had attacked Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed. Two people attacked Shiekh Rasheed’s vehicle from the rear end while two attacked from the front.

The workers of Awami Muslim League held a protest against the attack and blocked the road while chanting slogans, demanding the government to arrest the responsible elements involved. Earlier, the spokesman Lal Haveli told SAMAA that Sheikh Rasheed had been present in the office at the time of firing. The bullet has hit Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in his foot, he added.

REACTION:

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack at the office of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, leader of Awami League. Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Mushahid Hussain, said that the government failed to provide security to Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed. It is the failure of the government that results in these types of incidents in the major cities and the offices of the leaders of the political parties are being targeted. People being involved in the firing incident want to harass the supporters of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, he said.

“I appeal to the government to provide security to Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and to investigate the firing incident and that the government must bring the responsible elements to justice,” he added. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Ahsan Iqbal, also condemned the attack and indicated that there are few elements in the country, who want to destabilize the PML-N government in Punjab.

Awami National Party leader, Senator Zahid Khan, was of the view that the government needs to take important security measures for the protection of the leaders of the political parties. Condemning the attack, Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader, Farooq Sattar, said that steps must be taken by the government to ensure the security of the political figures. He further expressed his condolence with the families of the four people who have been killed in the incident. The Punjab government needs to conduct a neutral investigation of the incident, he added.