GUJRANWALA, Nov 7: The federal investigation agency (FIA) has so far recovered record Rs60 million from agents of human smugglers in the Gujranwala division during the last 10 months.

This was stated by FIA deputy director Shahid Hamid and assistant director Arif Bukhari here on Sunday.

They said the government had inducted only 22 approved agents throughout the division but more than 100 unregistered agents were extorting money from the people.

They further said that inquiries against some 1,456 fake agents were going on.

The officials pointed out that around 240 criminals, including 22 proclaimed offenders, were also arrested by FIA raiding teams in the corresponding period.

WATER THIEVES: Around 10 landlords were caught red-handed on Sunday by a joint team of the police and irrigation department while stealing canal water in Mari Thakaran village and Naushera Virkan.

Acting on a tip-off that landlords were stealing water by breaching the canal in some villages, the joint team raided there and caught them red-handed. The raiding team also recovered pipes and other equipment from their possession.

Cases have been registered against the accused while further investigation is under way.

LOADSHEDDING: The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has started gas loadshedding in various parts of the city during sehr and iftar hours.

Residents of these areas protested against the gas loadshedding during Ramazan and demanded that the practice should be suspended immediately otherwise they would besiege the SNGPL's regional office.

The affected colonies are: Irfat Colony, Mujahidpura, Ismaeelpura, Jamshedpura, Rahmanpura, Sultanpura, Tarpura Quzafi Road, Muslim Town, Shafiqpura, Tariqpura and Abdullahpura.

ELECTROCUTED: A truck driver was electrocuted in Jamki Chattha on Sunday.

The truck was on its way to Wazirabad from Jamki Chattha village. Near a bridge, driver Muhammad Anwer tried to set the side mirror, but his hand touched with an electric wire. He received a severe shock and died on the way to THQ Hospital, Wazirabad. The police sent the body to hospital for autopsy.

HIGH ALERT: The railway police and its bomb disposal squads have been high-alerted and commandos deployed at rail tracks to combat any terrorist activity on the eve of Eid.

This was stated by railway police IG Chaudhry Ahmad Nasim while talking to Dawn here on Sunday.

He said special raiding teams, led by senior officers, had already been constituted while he would himself pay surprise visits to important railway stations to review security arrangements.

He directed the police to enhance patrolling at railway stations and trains to avoid any untoward incident.

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...