TOBA TEK SINGH: Mamukanjun police (Faisalabad) registered on Thursday a case against the four food department officials who were caught red-handed by Tandlianwala assistant commissioner Awais Mangat during a raid at a godown on Tuesday night when they were mixing sand in the wheat stock.

The complainant, a Mamukanjun revenue department patwari Shakil Ahmed, claimed in the first information report registered under section 409 of PPC and section 22 of Punjab food Authority Act that during the raid, two food inspectors Umer Farooq and Tashaf Javed, a watchman, a baledar and three labourers were mixing sand in wheat at the godown to misappropriate the same weight of the staple.

The FIR said 50 bags filled with sand were also recovered during the raid which they had brought there to mix in the wheat.

Meanwhile, Faisalabad district food controller Amanullah Somro has suspended both inspectors and two other employees from service. Police have arrested the three labourers; however; all the food department officials managed their escape and could not be arrested so far.

CLASH: Three students of Gojra government postgraduate college were injured seriously when two members of their rival group opened fire on college premises on Thursday.

The injured identified as Rana Muhammad Ali, Bilal Ahmad and Arqam Bhatti were admitted to Gojra THQ hospital. Police were conducting raids to arrest the attackers.

FLOUR: The Faisalabad food department took action on Thursday against Rahim flour mills for alleged misappropriation of government supplied wheat and not supplying flour under the fixed quota to the subsidy shops.

The department cancelled its wheat quota and imposed Rs500,000 fine for forging supply records.

A press release said apart from cancelling the quota of another [Bashir] floor mills, show-cause notice had also been issued to its owner.

One Ehtisham Salim had been caught on the charge of hoarding government flour and he was sent behind bars after registration of a case against him.

NOMINATION: Nomination papers will be filed by the candidates from Feb 10 to 14 for the by-election in Faisalabad NA-107 being held on March 19.

A notification issued by district election commissioner Basil Akram, final list of candidates will be issued after withdrawal of papers on March 1. The seat had fallen vacant after the resignation of PTI MNA Sheikh Khurram Shahzad was accepted by the NA speaker.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2023