November 21, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 15, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Nov 20: Fire that broke out in the revenue record room here on the premises of district courts on Wednesday night gutted almost a century-old record.

According to an eye-witness, the smoke started coming out of the windows of the record room at around 6.30pm and shortly afterwards, the fire erupted.

More than 12 firemen from the four fire stations of Rawalpindi city and Cantonment Board took part in the fire fighting operation. The fire, which destroyed record of civil and judicial matters, old settlements and also some NAB cases, was brought under control after about two and a half hours.

Later, the fire again erupted at around 9.45pm and engulfed the office of Naib Tehsildar.

The fire department said fire engines were called from Islamabad after the fire erupted again. Till the filing of this report, efforts were under way to save other offices and courtrooms.

The district Nazim, Raja Tariq Kiani, told reporters that the cause of the fire was yet to be established. He said the matter would be probed thoroughly and the guilty person would be brought to justice.

“Most of the record dated back to 1905. The quantum of the loss is yet to be ascertained,” he said adding that the Superintendent of Police, Sabir Ahmed, had been directed to determine the cause of the fire.

Mohammad Arif, the only watchman on duty when the fire erupted, said: “I was sitting near the Nazim’s office when I saw the clouds of smoke billowing from the record room. I informed the police and fire department.” He further said he saw no person there.

Quoting an eye-witness, a police official said though the doors of the record room were closed, its lights were on.