ISLAMABAD (February 09 2010): Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed narrowly escaped attempt on life while four persons including two guards were killed and eight others injured. Sheikh injured by a broken glass was rushed to District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi.

Rescue 1122 officials took the AML chief along with four injured to hospital, said a rescuer of 1122. Four persons including Anwar Ahmed alias Anwari, Muhammad Hussain, two personal guards, Irshad Ahmed alias Shada and Javed Ahmed were killed in the incident while Sheikh Rasheed, Hussain and Ilyas Abbasi were injured.

There were about 15 persons present in the election office when unidentified assailants attacked it, the spokesman of Lal Haveli, Haider Ali informed media. He said that Sheikh Rasheed was present in the office at the time of firing.

Four assailants started indiscriminate firing from two sides when Sheikh Rasheed reached his election office situated at Muhammadi Chowk of Khayaban e Sir Syed, in the jurisdiction of Pirwadhai Police, an eyewitness said. "The attackers dressed in pent shirts and faces covered with masks, came from two sides and after resorting to indiscriminate firing managed to escape from the scene," the eyewitness said.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed and the whole area was cordoned off while search operation was launched to hunt the assailants involved in this incident. Rawalpindi city is undergoing the electioneering as by-elections of the NA-55 are scheduled to be held on February 24. Sheikh Rasheed is contesting the elections while PML-N, Jamat e Islami, PTI and other political parties are also participating in the by-polls.

"Sheikh Rasheed was returning after visiting his election office when unidentified gunmen from front side opened indiscriminate firing with Kalashnikovs," Javed Qureshi, who was along with Sh Rasheed told media. He said due to indiscriminate firing four persons including Sh Rasheed's guards and workers were killed while Sh Rasheed fell down on the ground.

Qureshi said Sheikh Rasheed was rushed to hospital as he received some injuries in his foot. However, he was unaware either the injuries were of gunshot. When this scribe contacted the DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi, the officials confirmed the death of four saying that the hospital received four bodies and four injured including Sh Rasheed. They said that Rasheed received injuries on his foot and legs by broken glasses and he is well.

Hundreds of supporters of Sh Rasheed gathered in the area and outside the hospital and chanted slogans against the provincial government and the candidates contesting election against him. The main IJP Road and other adjacent roads were blocked for all kinds of traffic.

APP adds: Expressing his firm resolve to continue serving the people of Rawalpindi with renewed force, Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said assassination attempts cannot suppress his plans to develop Rawalpindi. In a telephonic interview with a private news channel he said he has not nominated anyone in his First Information Report (FIR) report registered already in Pirwadhai police station this evening.

However, he added that the people sensing defeat have tried to eliminate him, a true friend of the poor. He also blamed Punjab Police for not providing him adequate security despite written applications. Narrating the details of the firing incident at him, he said two motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire at him and companions outside his Khayaban-e-Sir Syed election office. The firing continued for some time. He just managed to save his life by going inside the office. However, his three close friends lost their lives.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010