TOBA TEK SINGH: Two teachers and a headmistress were suspended from service for allegedly forcing girls to cook and sell biryani here on Tuesday at 672/13 GB.

Deputy Commissioner Umer Javed took notice of the complaint that students of Pirmahal government girls high school 672/13 GB were forced to cook and sell biryani by the teaching staff. On the direction of the DC, District Education Authority CEO Muhammad Zulfiqar suspended from service headmistress Razia Manzoor and two teachers Umme Kalsoom and Rukhsana Ramzan.

They have been served with show-cause notices with the direction to reply within seven days.

ACCIDENT: A young man and his sister were killed when a bus hit their motorcycle near Gojra on Tuesday evening on Gojra-Faisalabad Road.

Police said Gulfam Nazir was on his way to Chak 338 JB along with his sister Farzana Bibi by a bike. Near Adda Dawakhri, a Multan-bound bus hit the two-wheeler as a result both suffered critical injuries and died on the spot. The bus driver managed his escape; however the police impounded the vehicle.

THIEF BEATEN UP: Villagers caught a thief red-handed and beat him up at Chak 158 GB Boorrewal, Chak Jhumra (Faisalabad) on Tuesday.

Later he was handed over to police. He was identified as Muhammad Riaz while his two accomplices managed to escape.

RUN OVER: A bus ran over a motorcyclist on Tuesday on Faisalabad-Multan Road near Adda Jehangir Morr toll plaza as a result his minor nephew sitting with him on the two-wheeler died instantly while the biker was seriously injured.

The deceased was identified as Usman Sarwar (6) while his wounded uncle Hassan Ali (28) was rushed to DHQ hospital.

Punjabi Sulaikh Mela: The two-day seventh Punjabi literary festival “Lyallpur Punjabi Sulaikh Mela” will be held at Faisalabad on Feb 26 and 27.

A press release said this year’s festival is dedicated to the 300th birth anniversary of the great Punjabi philosopher and poet Baba Waris Shah (1722-2022).

The festival is organised by Punjabi organisation Kuknas in collaboration with Punjabi Lehar, Lyallpur Literary Council, Lyallpur Young Historians Club and Faisalabad Arts Council.

The festival will begin with ‘Heer Waris Shah’. The first day will feature Punjabi folk songs, mystics’ poetry, Bangra, Jhoomar and Punjabi Theatre.

The final day will have sessions on Sufi tradition in Punjab, the socio-political role of languages and language movements, Punjabi organisations and their work, Progressive Movements in Lyallpur, and Kahani Darbar where writers will read their short stories for the audience.

The day will end with a Punjabi Mushaira.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022