SAHIWAL: Pakpattan Saddar police on Wednesday registered a case against a seven-member gang, including a woman, who contracted a deceitful marriage, looted the groom, and deprived him of his valuables.

Police booked Qutbuddin, Qadir, Saima Bibi, Nabi Bakish, and three unidentified accomplices under section 380 of Pakistan Penal Code for the theft of gold, cash, and other valuables amounting to Rs1.2 million.

The case was registered on the complaint of Ghulam Dastagir, the brother of the victim.

Reports said Iqbal Hussain entered into a second marriage with Saima Bibi, a resident of Kalay Pathan in Tehsil Arifwala, on April 22. The proposal for the second marriage was facilitated by groom’s brother Ghulam Dastagir and Saima’s brother Qutbuddin.

The marriage and Nikah ceremony took place at village 18/SP in the presence of approximately two dozen witnesses. However, on the night of April 27, Saima reportedly administered a sedative in milk, causing Iqbal to lose consciousness. Subsequently, she, along with her brother and four accomplices, ransacked the house, making off with three tola gold, Rs200,000 cash, clothes and other valuables before fleeing on motorcycles.

The following day, Dastagir found his brother unconscious in the house and immediately alerted the authorities. Rescue 1122 shifted Iqbal to the Arifwala THQ Hospital for medical treatment.

Upon investigation, the police uncovered a pattern wherein the gang would deceitfully marry villagers before robbing them. Police are conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

PASSCO: Following farmers’ complaints and protests, the Saddar police booked a food inspector from Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation who allegedly sold more than 2,500 gunny bags to middlemen and commission agents.

Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Sadia Maher confirmed that a case has been registered against food inspector Mudassir Nawaz under sections 379, 411, 419, 420, and 471 of PPC on the complaint of revenue officer Amanullah.

Police seized five trollies carrying over 2,500 wheat bags which were reportedly sold to middlemen and commission agents in the Vehari district.

Reports said both Mudassir Nawaz and project manager Mumtaz Bajwa managed to escape.

The incident came to light when five trucks loaded with wheat arrived from Vehari at the Passco centre at Chak Noor Muhammad. As unloading began, farmers who had been waiting in queues with their tractor trollies being unloaded for the past 48 hours, objected to how a trolley entered the centre without adhering to the queue order. The farmers called 15 police while assistant commissioner (revenue) and his team also rushed to the centre.

Upon investigation, the farmers’ complaints were found to be valid, and police recovered five loaded trollies of wheat bags.

The record showed that gunny bags had been sold to middlemen from Vehari.

Saddar police are conducting raids to arrest Mudassir.

It merits mentioning that in the Sahiwal division, only Pakpattan office of Passco had initiated the purchase of wheat. Numerous verbal and written complaints have been lodged by farmers accusing Passco officials of selling gunny bags to middlemen.

Provincial President Kisan Ittehad Muhammad Hussain demanded that all farmers’ complaints must be addressed. He claimed that he had forwarded a list of middlemen to local revenue authorities for legal action.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024