GUJRANWALA: Eight model cattle markets will be established in six districts of Gujranwala division while a newly formed Capital Market Management Company will look after the markets affairs.

This was stated by Commissioner Shumail Ahmad Khwaja while addressing a meeting of board of directors of the new company.

The meeting was attended by board members University of Gujrat Vice-Chancellor Dr Nizamuddin, MPAs Chaudhry Arshad Javed and Haji Abdul Rauf Mughal, Regional Police Officer Saad Akhtar Bharwana, Livestock Director Dr Ghulam Muhammad Gill, Mufti Najamuddin, Local Government Director Shahzad Hameed and representative of peasants Muhammad Yousaf.

The commissioner said a new management company had been registered under the company act. He said currently 18 cattle markets with two in Gujranwala, four in Narowal, three in Hafizabad and four each in Sialkot and Mandi Bahauddin were operational under the casual contract system.

However, after June 30, the contracts would expire and these markets would also come under the new system. He said the newly established cattle markets would have all facilities, including provision of clean water for farmers and animals, fodder, sheds, mosque and Rescue 1122 ambulance.

He claimed this project would free peasants from the “market mafia” while healthy animals on cheap rates would also be available. He said the model cattle markets would work six days a week.

Earlier, the board approved constitution of a sub-committee comprising the livestock and local government directors and a representative of the University of Gujrat to suggest how the company would function.

The board also nominated Dr Gill as managing director of the company, while the TMA staff already posted in these markets would continue until proper staff is required.

MURDER: A man pursuing the murder case of his father was allegedly shot dead by those nominated in the case in Emanabad on Tuesday.

Heirs of the deceased protested against the murder by placing his body on GT Road and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

Muhammad Arshad, an employee of Kamoki Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, had got registered a murder case of his father Meharban Ali. The main suspect nominated was Sajid whom police had been unable to arrest so far.

Arshad was on his way home on Tuesday when Sajid and his accomplices allegedly opened fire on him that killed him on the spot. The assailants managed to escape.

Arshad’s family placed his body on GT Road and blocked it in protest. They claimed Sajid had been threatening Arshad to stop pursuing the case but he had refused. They also claimed police had been unable to arrest Sajid and provide protection to Arshad after the murder of his father and subsequent threats.

The protesters dispersed peacefully when police assured them of fulfilling their demands.

Emanabad police registered a case with no arrests until the filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2014