The victims were returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah when they were shot and killed. The suspect has been taken into custody by airport security personnel.
According to police, the victims have been identified as Zain Rafiq and Ikram. A third man names Ansar has been injured in the shooting. Rafiq had a police case filed against him and was accused of being involved in the killing of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) activist Babar Butt.
A heavy contingent of police are present at the airport following the incident and strict monitoring of vehicles has led to along queue on the entrance route.
Butt, who was shot and killed in 2017, contested for a Punjab Assembly seat from PP-157 constituency in the 2013 elections on a PPP ticket and served as an active member of the People’s Youth Organisation (PYO) Lahore.Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ashfaq Ahmad Khan said two suspects — identified as Shan and Arshad — opened fire on a man near the airport's parking area. He said their target was Zain Ali, a 30-year-old resident of the Lakhodair area in Lahore, who was returning from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah. He died on the spot.
Both the assailants, who have previous criminal records, have been arrested.
The second victim of the shooting was a taxi driver named Akram, who had no relation to Zain but was struck during the firing. He was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The DIG said that the suspects had duped Airport Security Force (ASF) officials and entered the airport parking area with weapons.
The two gunmen did not enter the main terminal's security cordon, but the incident raised concerns as the area is heavily patrolled by police and airport security.
DIG Khan stressed that it was the job of the ASF to manage the security at the facility. Meanwhile, SP Cantt Safdar Raza Kazmi said police are investigating how the suspects managed to enter the airport premises with weapons.
The DIG visited the site of the incident and issued the necessary instructions, a spokesperson for the Lahore Police told DawnNewsTV.
It was earlier reported that the incident took place at the arrivals/waiting area outside the main airport building. Footage available with DawnNewsTV shows the deceased man lying on the floor with two women sitting next to the body.
A forensics team reached the airport soon after the incident while entry and exit points to the airport were closed. They have since been opened. After receiving reports of the incident, a large contingent of police and Rangers personnel also reached the site.
