MUZAFFARGARH: A district medical officer (DMO) was found dead in a private guest house in Jatoi on Monday morning.

Dr Farrukh Shahzad who served as the district medical superintendent at the Jatoi Health Card Hospital, hailed from Basira town and belonged to the Zargar family.

The news emerged when hospital staff and fellow doctors noticed his absence and informed the Jatoi police.

Preliminary reports suggest that Dr Shahzad may have suffered a cardiac arrest. According to his father, Riaz Hussain Zargar, the family last spoke to him on Sunday night. On Monday morning, they were informed of his death after he failed to wake up. Police and hospital authorities have initiated legal formalities and investigations into the incident.

PROBE: Deputy Commissioner Quratul Ain has ordered legal action against district council officials and a contractor for unlawfully occupying ferry land, locally called Pattan points, at the River Chenab in Muzaffargarh.

The incident came to limelight when Muhammad Imran, the legitimate contractor who had won the auction for the ferry land, lodged a complaint with the DC office.

He alleged that district council officials, including Aslam Khaira, Naveed and Ajmal, along with an illegal contractor, Ghulam Murtaza, obstructed his operations and refused to hand over possession.

The deputy commissioner directed the registration of a case at Rohilanwali police station under sections 419, 420, 506, 186, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The suspects include District Council clerk Naveed, Naib Qasid Ajmal and Ghulam Murtaza. Local journalists had previously raised concerns about mismanagement and embezzlement in ferry land allocations.

The deputy commissioner said that an inquiry was ongoing and pledged strict action against those responsible for irregularities.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2024