DI Khan firing victims laid to rest

CTD arrests suspects, members of banned organisations

DERA ISAMAIL KHAN: Four persons, who were shot dead by unidentified gunmen a day earlier, were laid to rest in ancestral graveyards on Friday amid moving scenes.

The personnel of Counter-Terrorism Department also arrested dozens of suspected persons and members of various banned organisations during a late night action, police officials said.The funeral prayers for the deceased lawyers Atif Abbas Zaidi, Syed Ali and another man Mukhtiar Hussain were offered in Chah Syed Munnawar area while that of Akhtar Abbas, a schoolteacher, were performed in Eidgah Kalan.

People from various walks of life including judges, lawyers, religious and political leaders and locals attended the funerals.The District Bar Association Dera condemned the killings of the lawyers and announced two-day mourning. The body also announced to boycott the court proceedings for two days.

The lawyers held a condolence reference for their deceased colleagues and prayed for the departed souls. Speaking on the occasion, president of the body Akhtar Hussain Qureshi said it was the responsibility of the government to protect the lives and properties of citizens. He asked the government to evolve a comprehensive strategy to prevent the killing of innocent people.

The lawyers called for exposing the elements behind the gruesome incidents and demanded exemplary punishment for the killers.

Meanwhile, the police officials said personnel of the CTD launched an action against suspected persons and members of banned organisations. They had arrested dozens of suspects. They said the arrested persons and members of outlawed organisations were shifted to undisclosed location for interrogation.