Pakistan’s legendary cricketer and former captain Wasim Akram on Wednesday escaped unhurt when an unidentified person opened fire at him in a road rage incident in the city’s busy Karsaz area. He was on his way to National Stadium when the incident happened.
“A car hit mine, I stopped him and then this guy stepped out and fired at my car. When I asked the driver to come out he suddenly opened fire at me. He was definitely an official, I have noted the number of the car and given it to the police,” Akram said. Initial reports had said the gunman did not aim at the cricketer.
“I was in the middle lane and a car hit my car from behind. I signaled the driver to come to the side but he tried to race off which irritated me a lot,” Wasim said.
“I got a bit frustrated and chased that car and blocked it and while I was standing and arguing with the driver a person stepped out from the back seat holding a gun and pointed it at me. But since the traffic had stopped and people recognised me the man then lowered his gun and fired at my car,” he narrated the details of the incident which is now being investigated by the police.
“I have shared all details with the police and I am confident they will apprehend the culprit. Because road rage can happen anywhere in the world be it England, Australia, USA but taking out a gun is not the way to settle such things,” Wasim said. “And if this person who fired is so brave than he should come forward and face things,” the former captain added.
A senior police official confirmed that a bullet had grazed the car of the former captain. Apparently Akram’s car met with an accident when another vehicle tried to jam it to one side after which he chased the passengers and blocked their vehicle.
When heated words were exchanged, one of them suddenly opened fire on Akram, but he survived and the bullet grazed his vehicle, Gulshan area SP Abid Qaimkhani said.
Speaking to the media outside the National Stadium, Deputy Inspector General East Munir Sheikh said the episode was a clear case of road rage.
“We have identified the car from CCTV footage and will have the suspect in custody in a couple of hours,” Sheikh said. The former captain visited the office of DIG East and recorded his statement before the police.
Akram’s manager Arsalan Hyder said, “Wasim was driving himself, and the car next to him tried to jam his car to one side and opened fire. He did not get hit.”
The incident drew widespread condemnation from former cricketers such as former captain Imran Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Moin Khan, Shahid Afridi and Rashid latif as well as political personalities.
Wasim told the media at the national stadium that the incident was scary.