SAHIWAL: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Special Judge Asif Bashir on Tuesday discharged the non-bailable arrest warrant for Khawar Maneka, the ex-husband of Bushra Bibi, after he appeared in the court. However, the court extended the non-bailable arrest warrants for his two sons, Musa Maneka and Ibrahim Maneka, as they failed to appear.

The judge directed the Okara ACE to arrest them and present them in the court on Sept 10.

Eyewitnesses reported an exchange of words between Khawar Maneka and Judge Asif Bashir.

Maneka questioned the issuance of non-bailable warrants for himself and his sons despite the submission of a “discharge report” by the Okara ACE in the Rs110 million corruption case.

The judge said the court has the legal right to question the “discharge report” prepared by the Okara ACE and to summon witnesses to testify about its authenticity.

The judge expressed “dissatisfaction” with Maneka’s response.

Manika was implicated in the Rs110m corruption case based on a report by the then deputy commissioner of Okara on Aug 11, 2023. He is accused of illegally converting graveyard land and state property into commercial real estate without paying the required conversion fee in Haveli Lakha, causing a loss of Rs110m to the national exchequer.

Khawar Maneka was arrested by ACE, Sahiwal region, at Multan airport upon his return from Dubai.

Initially, Maneka and his two sons were granted interim bail, which was later confirmed by the Lahore High Court. However, one son fled to Spain without facing trial, and Musa Maneka failed to appear in court, leading to the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants for all three accused two days ago.

ENCOUNTER: A dacoit was killed while his two accomplices managed their escape during an encounter with Dera Rahim police near village 110/9-L, Chichawatni tehsil, on Monday night.

Police received an emergency call reporting that three dacoits were looting villagers. When Dera Rahim police responded, the robbers opened fire upon seeing the police van. After the exchange of gunfire, the police found the body of a suspect later identified as Shahadat. His two accomplices Shahzad and Papoo managed to flee.

The police recovered Rs12,000 in cash and five mobile phones from Shahadat’s possession. They claimed that Shahadat was killed in firing by his accomplices.

A case under sections 302, 324, and 34 of Pakistan Penal Code has been registered against the two fleeing dacoits based on a complaint filed by Inspector Muhammad Ismail.

Shahadat was wanted in connection with more than a dozen cases of dacoity, attempted murder and street crimes.

BODY FOUND: Neighbours found the body of a woman hanging from a tree in Katchi Abadi near the Railway Line in Ghala Mandi on Tuesday.

On receipt of information, Ghala Mandi police rushed to the spot and took down the body, which was found hanging from a tree.

According to SHO Amir Farooq, the woman was identified as Misbah, the wife of Saifullah.

Eyewitnesses said police collected forensic evidence, but it is not clear whether she died by suicide or someone murdered her.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024