NAROWAL: A Pasrur-based family suffered another loss on Friday, marking the seventh murder by their opponents since February 2021.

On Nov 13, Shahab Islam and his accomplices fired at the family`s car in Pasrur, killing two persons and injuring Muhammad Shahzad and passerby Ali Hassan. On Friday, Shahzad succumbed to his injuries after four days of hospital treatment.

Complainant Abdul Rehman told Dawn that on Feb 21, 2021, opponents targeted and killed his grandfather Obaidur Rehman, his brother Zulfikar Ali, his son Majidur Rahman and nephew Hasan Zulfiqar.

Rahman claimed that the perpetrators continued to threaten his father, Naeemur Rehman, to dissuade him from pursuing the murder case. Two weeks ago, Rahman`s father saw Shahab and other alleged murderers of his relatives in Pasrur.

Despite alerting the Pasrur police for immediate arrest, the station house officer`s delay provided the suspects with enough time to strike again, resulting in the death of three more family members.

Rehman alleged receiving threats twice on phone calls in the last three days. He accused the police of not making sufficient efforts to arrest the suspects listed in the FIRs -Shahab Islam, Shahid Islam, Shoaib, Shazeeb, Dawood and Saud.

He further alleged that, following the first murder incident, the police pressured his father to reconcile.

He said the suspects were present in Sialkot, but the police continued to collude with them.

District police chief Muhammad Hasan Iqbal claimed that the police were actively pursuing the suspects and took immediate action by suspending the Pasrur station house officer for incompetence.

The community is demanding early arrest of the accused and has sought intervention of caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Correspondent