Muhammad Khalil, his wife and their three children were travelling in a car with neighbour Zeeshan behind steering wheel when personnel of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) intercepted the vehicle and opened fire on the passengers suspecting them terrorists. Two minor siblings of Khalil namely Umair and Muneeba had survived the attack.
The officials claimed that they had information that Zeeshan had links with a terrorist outfit. Initially, the trial was conducted in Sahiwal, however, the Lahore High Court on June 17 had shifted the proceedings to Lahore.