An executive engineer of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists near Kala Shah Kaku on GT Road. The victim, identified as Rab Yar, was travelling home from duty in Muridke when his vehicle came under fire, and he died at the scene.
Background
Rab Yar served as an executive engineer (XEN) with LESCO and had been posted in Muridke. According to LESCO sources, he had been pursuing a transfer out of Muridke for roughly a month and a half and had reportedly met local political figures in connection with the request. Colleagues said he had mentioned earlier the same day that his transfer was expected to go through within two to three days.
Separately, local media reported that the shooting took place shortly after Rab Yar had celebrated his birthday, adding a particularly tragic dimension to the circumstances surrounding his death. He is survived by his wife, three daughters and a twelve-year-old son.
Details
The incident occurred on Wednesday as Rab Yar was driving from Muridke to his residence in Lahore’s Askari-IX area after completing his duty shift. Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle and opened fire, killing him instantly before fleeing the scene.
District Police Officer Sheikhupura, Bilal Zafar Sheikh, reached the location along with police personnel soon after the incident was reported. Officers collected forensic evidence, including bullet casings recovered from the vehicle, and began legal proceedings. A separate report noted that investigators also pulled CCTV footage covering the route between Rab Yar’s office and the crime scene as part of the inquiry.
Police said at the time of initial reporting that no case had yet been formally registered and that a post-mortem examination was still pending. Investigators have since constituted multiple teams to pursue different angles of the case, including the possibility of personal enmity.
Quotes
Police officials indicated that the motive behind the shooting had not been established at the time of the attack, though initial assessments suggested it could be linked to personal enmity rather than a targeted professional dispute. SP Rana Ghulam Abbas confirmed that investigation teams had been formed and that both forensic and CCTV evidence were being examined to identify the attackers.
Impact
The killing has shaken LESCO’s workforce in the region. Staff members staged a protest outside THQ Hospital in Muridke in the aftermath of the shooting, demanding swift justice for their slain colleague. LESCO Chief Executive Ramzan Butt was reported to have travelled to the hospital along with hundreds of employees in a show of solidarity.
The incident has also renewed broader concerns about the safety of government and utility officials travelling on GT Road corridors in Punjab, particularly those involved in transfer disputes or postings that may draw local friction.
Conclusion
Police investigations are ongoing, with multiple teams working to trace the attackers through forensic evidence and CCTV footage collected from the scene and the victim’s travel route. Authorities are expected to register a formal case and complete the post-mortem examination in the coming days, which should provide further clarity on the exact sequence of events and any possible motive behind the killing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was shot dead in the reported incident?
The victim was Rab Yar, an executive engineer (XEN) serving with the Lahore Electric Supply Company in Muridke. He was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists near Kala Shah Kaku on GT Road while travelling home to Lahore’s Askari-IX neighbourhood after finishing his duty shift. He was a father of three daughters and a young son, and colleagues described him as having been actively pursuing a transfer out of his Muridke posting in the weeks before his death.
What does LESCO stand for?
LESCO stands for the Lahore Electric Supply Company, one of Pakistan’s state-run power distribution companies operating under the Ministry of Energy. It is responsible for electricity distribution across Lahore and several surrounding districts of Punjab, including areas such as Muridke, Sheikhupura and Kasur. Like other distribution companies (DISCOs) in Pakistan, LESCO employs a network of engineers, including executive engineers (XENs), who oversee grid operations, maintenance and administrative functions within their assigned divisions.
How was the LESCO executive engineer killed?
Rab Yar was killed when unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire on his vehicle as he drove along GT Road near Kala Shah Kaku. He died at the scene before police or rescue services could intervene, and the attackers fled immediately after the shooting. Investigators have since collected bullet casings and other forensic evidence from his vehicle, along with CCTV footage from along his travel route, as they work to establish exactly how the attack unfolded and who was responsible.
