TOBA TEK SINGH: Two persons were killed and another was critically injured after a group of 12 people, including young boys, opened fire at Baba Booty Shah Mela in Chak 202-RB Gatti, Faisalabad.

Waqar Saleem and Advocate Hannan Rauf along with Hannan’s brother Ubaidullah had reportedly tried to stop Abdullah and his 11 accomplices from creating chaos at the mela. Enraged, the suspects opened fire and critically injured all three.

The victims were rushed to Allied Hospital, where Waqar and Hannan succumbed to their injuries. Ubaidullah was in a critical condition.

Police arrested eight suspects and seized weapons.

Raids were underway to arrest the remaining accomplices.

City Police Officer Kamran Adil said the mela was held without police permission.

The Millat Town police arrested Muzammal, Haris and Mudassar.

ACCIDENT: Two persons were killed in an accident on Toba-Gojra Road when a speeding bus hit their motorcycle on Saturday.

Majid Ali (34) and Burhan Ahmad (28) were travelling on Gojra-Toba Road when a Faisalabad-Sadiqabad bus ran over their bike, killing them instantly.

Police have started an investigation into the incident.

DEATH SENTENCE: Two persons were sentenced to death in murder cases on Saturday.

Gojra Additional District and Sessions Judge Abbas Rasool Warraich sentenced Imran Shahbaz to death for murdering Qaiser Nadeem in 2021 over an old enmity. He was also ordered to pay Rs500,000 to the deceased’s family.

Three co-accused were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

In Kabirwala, Khanewal, another judge sentenced Tahir to death for killing a car driver, Shahzad, in 2023 after a minor dispute. He was also fined Rs500,000.

FAKE HERBAL MEDICINES: Authorities raided the Al-Saudia Tibbi Foundation in Pirmahal and seized hundreds of packs of fake herbal medicines.

District Drug Controller Muhammad Zeeshan stated that the company supplied hazardous medicines nationwide.

Clinic owner Hakeem Muhammad Ramzan has been arrested and a case registered against him.

CASE: The Jaranwala Sadar police registered a case on Saturday, after a four-month delay, against former SHO Babar Gujjar, five constables, and two others on charges of kidnapping foreign-returned Kashif and his brother Kamran and releasing them after taking Rs300,000 as a bribe.

Complainant Abdul Majeed of Chak 65-GB claimed in his FIR, registered under Section 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code, that both his sons were travelling by a car when the SHO, along with five police officials and two private people (opponents of the complainant), abducted them and took them to the CIA Staff Police Station in Samundari. There, they were allegedly tortured to appease their opponents and were released only after paying the bribe.

The complainant further stated that the abductors also took Rs11,000 in cash, a mobile phone worth Rs65,000 and other valuables.

He added that an SP’s inquiry confirmed the allegations against all six police officials. However, no arrests have been made so far.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2024