GUJRANWALA: An elderly man died mysteriously at the Saddar Land Record Centre (LRC) here on Tuesday.

Police shifted the body to the district headquarters hospital for the postmortem examination while further investigation is underway.

Eyewitness said Riasat Ali, an elderly resident of Ibnwali village, came to the Saddar LRC and started shouting outside the office of assistant director, complaining that he had been visiting the centre repeatedly for some work, but nobody bothered to address the issue.

They said that meanwhile, a man came out of the ADLR’s office and after introducing himself as an official of an intelligence agency, started reprimanding the old man.

They said that soon after the reprimand, Riasat fell unconscious, adding that he was rushed to hospital but he died before being shifted there.

On being informed of the incident, SP Asadur Rehman arrived at the Saddar LRC with a police contingent and recorded the statements of the witnesses.

According to hospital’s medical staff, the old man apparently suffered cardiac arrest. However, they said that the actual cause of his death would be known after the postmortem examination.

Later, Punjab Land Record Authority Director General retired Capt Sohail Ashraf took notice of the incident and formed a committee to probe into the issue.

Following the incident, the Saddar LRC was temporarily closed.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2022