KHUSHAB: A bank manager was shot dead by a security guard allegedly over blasphemy allegations in Punjab’s Khushab district, police and relatives said.
Malik Imran Hanif, the manager of the National Bank of Pakistan branch in Quaidabad tehsil of Khushab, was shifted to a local hospital after he was shot by the guard from a rifle. Due to his critical injuries, he was taken to Lahore where he succumbed to his wounds at the Services Hospital.
Khushab District Police Officer (DPO) retired Capt Tariq Wilayat said it would be premature to comment on the motive behind the murder, but confirmed that the security guard, who was arrested after the incident, had claimed to have killed Hanif over blasphemy.
In a video of the suspect that was shared on social media, the guard could be heard saying that the deceased manager had “insulted the prophet”.
DPO Wilayat said police were investigating the incident. Quoting initial reports, he said the security guard and the manager had been quarrelling for some time. The guard was reportedly fired a few months ago; he was subsequently rehired and had an argument with Hanif a few days ago, the officer added.
Another guard of the bank branch, Razaq, was ending his night shift when the incident took place. He said the suspected killer had started duty at 7am, while the manager arrived at the bank around 8:40am.
Razaq said he was changing his uniform when he heard the sound of gunfire. He said he rushed towards the bank office, where the suspect had fired two shots. He said he stopped the suspect from firing a third shot.
Razaq further said he had not heard any conversation between the manager and the suspect before the killing took place.
No first information report (FIR) of the incident has been registered as yet. Police said they would lodge the FIR upon receiving a complaint from the deceased’s family, who were transporting his body back to Khushab from Lahore. A post-mortem was likely to take place in Khushab.
