BAHAWALPUR: The Miranpur police in Vehari district claimed on Thursday to have recovered three abducted children from the illegal custody of three suspects, who had also been booked for the alleged gang-rape of the victims’ mother in the Kukri Kalan area of Mauza Gurdawar.

According to police sources, the woman worked as a domestic help at the residence of Mian Sajid Nawaz, while her husband is a shepherd.

The woman alleged in her complaint that she was repeatedly raped by three nominated suspects ‘H’ and his brothers ‘S’ and ‘R’ over a period of time, and was threatened with death if she talked to anybody.

On the day of the incident, ‘H’ allegedly attempted to assault her once again in a room. When she resisted and raised alarms, her husband ‘I’ rushed to the scene and rescued her. Following the confrontation, the suspects allegedly abducted her three children - two minor sons and a daughter.

Acting on the victim’s complaint, the station house officer registered a first information report under sections 376 and 511 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Miranpur SHO Saeedur Rehman said the police recovered the abducted children and raids were underway to arrest the suspects.

When contacted, police spokesman Adnan Tariq confirmed that the Miranpur police were investigating the matter.

E-BUSES: The Punjab government has decided to widen the scope of the e-bus service to enhance travel convenience for residents across 11 tehsils of the Bahawalpur Division, increasing the existing fleet from 35 to 215 electric buses.

This was stated by Bahawalpur Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia, while chairing a high-level meeting to review operational arrangements, the construction of new bus stands, and related infrastructure across all tehsil headquarters in the division.

The meeting was attended by Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza, Director Development Malik Mehboob Elahi Khar, and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Riazullah.

Meanwhile, Rahim Yar Khan DC Zaheer Anwar Jappa, Bahawalnagar DC Syed Abbas Shah, along with assistant commissioners and officials from various relevant government departments across the three districts, joined via video link.

Commissioner Kathia directed officials to finalise all arrangements for the e-bus operations at the earliest. He said passenger bus stops, charging stations, parking terminals, and other necessary infrastructure must be established through close coordination among all relevant government departments.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026