TOBA TEK SINGH: A young man who had attempted to self-immolate after failing to marry a girl of his choice in Chak 8/9R, in Khanewal’s Makhdoompur police area on Tuesday, succumbed to his burns in Nishtar Hospital, Multan, on Friday.

Reports said that Akhtar Hussain had eloped with a girl from his locality a week ago, but village elders forced him to return her. He complied with their decision.

On Tuesday, he sprayed petrol on his clothes and forced his way into the girl’s house and set himself on fire. He was then pushed out of the house.

Akhtar suffered severe burn injuries. Rescue 1122 shifted him to DHQ Hospital, where doctors referred him to Nishtar Hospital, Multan.

ENCROACHMENT: The government and traders are on the same page to make the eight bazaars around the Clock Tower encroachment-free and vehicle-free.

Commissioner Maryam Khan met traders of the eight bazaars on Friday and assured them that all possible facilities would be provided.

She also said business activities would continue uninterrupted and long-term measures were being taken to solve parking issues.

She said the under-construction parking plaza outside Chiniot Bazaar would be completed soon, and parking facilities on Rajbah Road would have lighting and daily cleaning standards. Overcharging in the parking system would also be eradicated.

Former MNA Mian Abdul Manan, Muhammad Aslam Bhalli, Rao Sikandar Azam, Malik Shahid Rasool, Ayub Aslam Manj and other businessmen praised the initiative to clean the city and the eight bazaars of encroachments.

DIES: One of five minor girls from the same family in Pirmahal Chak 319-GB died at Pirmahal THQ Hospital on Friday after consuming rat poison pills that had been thrown in the street.

Reports said that three-year-old Anaya, along with eight-year-old Eiman Fatima, six-year-old Hareem, four-year-old Zoya, and four-year-old Noor Bibi, was playing in the street on Thursday evening when they found the pills and ingested them.

Their condition deteriorated, and they were admitted to Pirmahal THQ Hospital. Anaya died, while the condition of the others remains critical.

ACCIDENTS: A man died and his four grandchildren were seriously injured after his motorcycle collided with another motorcycle and then with a motorcycle rickshaw on Friday near the bus stop of Chak 330-GB, located on Pirmahal-Shorkot Cantonment Road.

Muhammad Hanif was bringing the children home from school.

The injured children, identified as Arham, Ayan, Rehan and Eiman, were shifted to Pirmahal THQ Hospital.

Also, a youth died and his cousin was critically injured when their motorcycle collided with a donkey cart near Chak 417-JB in Gojra on Friday.

Reports said deceased Ali Hassan and injured Amer were en route to Gojra when their bike hit the cart while overtaking.

KIDNAPPED: A girl was kidnapped in Nawan Lahore Chak 278 JB Usman Kot in Gojra on Friday.

Police registered a case on the complaint of Muhammad Azhar, who said his daughter was alone at home when Kashif of Sultanpura locality in Lahore arrived by car.

Kashif, along with four unidentified accomplices, bundled her into the car and fled towards Faisalabad.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2025

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