SAHIWAL: The Pakistan Kisan Ittehad (PKI), Punjab chapter, organised a protest rally at Railway Ground on Friday against the high prices of electricity, agricultural inputs, and the lack of support prices for major cash crops in Punjab.

PKI leaders and farmers threatened to escalate their protest across the province and march on Islamabad. Over 300 farmers and traders participated in the rally and protest camp, led by Khalid Khokhar and Chaudhry Rizwan.

The rally participants chanted slogans against independent power producers (IPP) agreements, demanding their immediate cancellation. PKI leaders called for a reduction in per-unit electricity charges, stating that PKI would continue the protest across various cities in Punjab over the next week, culminating in a larger gathering in Islamabad to press for their demands.

One participant, carrying his electricity bill, said, “I am using just one pedestal fan, two bulbs, and one motor, yet my Mepco bill is around Rs25,000.” Another farmer said that electricity bills have risen to the point where they exceed house rent and the loans they borrowed to purchase agricultural inputs such as pesticides, seeds, and fertilisers.

SOLDIER ROBBER: A robber who was captured by neighbours after he shot dead a woman during a robbery in Rana Town, Kameer, on Friday has been identified as a serving soldier of the Sindh Regiment in Petaro.

Kameer SHO Zafar Khan said three of the robber’s accomplices fled, while one, identified as Shahid Zafar, was captured by neighbours as he attempted to hide under a wooden cart.

According to reports, Sadia, wife of Mohsin Ali, was alone at home when four gunmen broke in. They restrained her and began looting cash and gold. When Sadia cried for help, one of the robbers shot her dead. The sound of gunfire alerted the neighbours, who quickly responded. Three of the robbers fled, but Shahid, of Sargodha and a regular soldier in the army, was captured.

Police claimed Shahid runs a gang of dacoits. Kameer police registered a case against Shahid under Pakistan Penal Code sections 392, 397, and 302 on the complaint of Mohsin.

BOOKED: The Chichawatni City police have booked a former office-bearer of a banned outfit listed under Schedule IV for fleeing to an unidentified location without informing local agencies and police.

Maulana Madood Chishti, of Al Fateh Town, was a central member of a banned outfit and was declared a terrorist under the 4th Schedule on April 10, 2023. He had been under observation by various law enforcement agencies for the past year. Chishti went missing from his described location on Aug 11. City police have booked him under Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Rahit Nazir.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024