January 7, 2003	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 3, 1423

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GUJRANWALA, Jan 6: At least 59 employees of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, including clerks, supervisors and linemen, were dismissed from service here on Monday.

The terminated employees had been working in various telephone exchanges across the region for the last several years. Most of them sacked were confirmed employees while others were working as daily wagers.

As per reports, the PTCL authorities had already sacked these employees but they were reinstated after a court injunction.

Robberies: Bandits looted three houses, a private hospital, several passers-by and killed a man on resistance during a dacoity bid and took away a wagon in six strikes in and around the city here on Monday.

Four outlaws busted into the house of Nazir Ali by scaling its boundary wall in Mantherki, Kamoki. They held the inmates hostage on gunpoint, locked them in a room and started collecting cash and ornaments. They shot dead Nazir, father of 10 children, when he tried to resist.

Five bandits barged into the houses of Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ayub on the Suigas Road. They tied the inmates with ropes, scooped cash, jewellery and manhandled women for raising an alarm. Later, they escaped with the booty.

Six dacoits in the guise of visitors entered the private hospital in Karyal Kalan, Naushera Virkan. Armed dacoits snatched cash and jewellery from patients and escaped. They also beat up hospital staff for offering resistance.

Three robbers intercepted constable Manzoor Hussain on the Garjakh Road and snatched Rs8,000 in cash from him. Later, they also snatched Rs10,000 in cash from passerby Dr Javed Ahmed.

Five bandits boarded the Wazirabad-bound wagon from Ghakkhar town. Near Jandiala Dhabwala on the GT Road, they whipped out their weapon and forced the driver to halt the vehicle. Later, they pushed the driver, Ashfaq, out and drove away with the vehicle.