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5-member gang of

alleged murders

arrested

LAHORE: In a massive crackdown, Sadar Police smashed a five-member gang of alleged murderers-cum-terrorists from Gulshan Iqbal area on Friday night who had planned sectarian blood-shed in provincial metropolis during the forthcoming month of Muharram.

City police chief Ch Sajjad Ahmed claimed at a press conference on Saturday. He disclosed culprits were also involved in the killings prominent shia scholar Mohsin Naqvi, Dr. Muhammad Ali Naqvi and Director General Provincial Excise and Taxation Syed Sajid Hussain Gilani. He said number of other well-known shia leaders were on the hit list of the gang. "They (murderers) were financed by Maulana Zia-Ur-Rehman, chief of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan who would also be challaned for abatement in certain cases", Sajjad added.

The culprits have been identified as Muhammad Ramzan, Master Muhammad Afzal, Haroon Rasheed, Mirza Maqsood Baig and Muhammad Shafiq. Besides Maulana Zia-Ur-Rehman some other traders of the city also used to finance the gang, the SSP city disclosed.

Besides recovering sizeable quantity of weapons, the first- ever weapon " grenade-launcher" were also seized from their possession.

The city police chief announced award for the raiding team.-APP