LAHORE - Renowned playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed was injured in an apparent assassination bid in Lahore on Tuesday. Two motorcyclists ambushed his vehicle at Shaukat Khanum hospital road in Johar Town, sprayed his car with bullets and fled the scene within seconds.
Asghar was on his way home when the attack came and the attackers opened straight fire on him with automatic weapons, eyewitnesses told police. He sustained two bullets in the arm and was rushed to Doctors Hospital, where his condition was said to be out of danger.
Police said that the injured drama writer himself contacted the rescue workers by phone and was speaking to the rescuers while he was being shifted to the hospital. But he lost consciousness as he reached the hospital because of excessive bleeding.
The police later collected evidence from the crime scene and sealed off the entire locality to hunt down the attackers but no arrest was made till Tuesday night. Investigators believed it was a terrorist attack on the renowned personality. However, a police officer said they were investigating the attack keeping in view various other aspects including the possibility of a robbery attempt.
Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed is also an Associate Professor and head of TV, Film and Theatre (TFT) Department in the Beacon House National University. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the firing on Asghar and ordered police for ensuring the arrest of the culprits.