LAHORE: Another worker of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), who was shot at and injured on Sunday night, breathed his last at the Mayo Hospital on Monday.

Malik Arif, 50, was shif ted to the hospital along seven others after they were attacked allegedly by the PML-N worl(ers for setting up an election office near the Nawaz Sharif Hospital at Yakki Gate late on Sunday.

PTI workers had earlier reportedly set up an election office in UC-33 and after some days, the PML-N workers also established their of fice nearby.

On Sunday night, the workers of both the parties raised slogans against each another whichenraged the PML-N workers who allegedly opened fire at the PTI workers, killing Khurram Shehzad Gujjar, 25, on the spot while injuring eight others.

The injured were identified as Malik Arif, Ali, Abdul Sami, Haroon Butt, Syed Ali Gillani, Chally Khan and Ali Baloch. Arif succumbed to his injuries on Monday.

Police registered the case under various sections, including 7-ATA, against seven suspects, namely Chaudhry Zahid, Ahmed Rasheed, Khurram But, Tara But, Khawar Butt, Malik Allah Ditta and one unidentified. Of them, Chaudhry Zahid and Ahmed Rasheed are the PML-N candidates for slots of UC-32 chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Both Zahid and Rasheed had got pre-arrest bail from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday.

City Division SP Operations Haroon Joiya said one suspect Allah Ditta had been arrested and raids were being conducted toarrest the others.

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court on Monday granted interim bail to two PML-N local government poll candidates who are allegedly involved in the killing of two Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers in Yakki Gate area and injuring some others.

The court directed the suspects -Zahid Husain and Ahmad Rasheed Butt to join police investigation.

The suspects are candidates of the PML-N for the upcoming local government polls.

Their counsel argued before the court that the case was fabricated and a result of political rivalry. He said his clients were busy in their election campaign at the time of the incident. He asked the court to grant pre-arrest bail to his clients.

The court granted interim bail to the suspects till Nov 1 and directed them to join investigation into the case.

FUNERAL: Funeral prayers forPTI workers Arif Malik and Khurram Shahzad were offered at Sheranwala Gate ground on Monday.

It is alleged that the PML-N workers had opened ñre at PTI workers inside Yakki Gate leaving two workers dead.

PTI chairman`s political adviser Ejaz Chaudhry, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, PTI Lahore Organiser and MNA Shafgat Mahmood, Abdul Aleem Khan, Umer Sarfraz Cheema, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Farid Paracha, LiaquatBalochandothersattended the funeral prayers.

Ejaz Chaudhry said the PML-N had started hooliganism against the PTI workers while apprehendingtheirdefeatinthelocalgovernment elections. He said the PTI would not sit silent until the arrest of the suspects.

Aleem Khan said the government`s two-and-a-half years performance would be exposed in the Oct31 local elections.

SARWAR: PTI Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar has said the PML-N and police have joined hands against the PTI for local government elections and introduced a new `ghunda culture` in the province.

He said the rulers had started killing PTI workers instead of facing them in the local elections.

Speaking at different public meetings as part of the local government election campaign on Monday, Mr Sarwar said the rulers were directly responsible for the murder of two PTI workers and they would definitely be held accountable.

He said the PTI would win the local government elections, despite illegal tactics being employed by the PML-N.

Mr Sarwar regretted that the Punjab police was supporting `hooligans` instead of protecting the life and property of the people.