TOBA TEK SINGH, June 15: The Punjab government has exempted nine villages of Pirmahal from abiana and local rate of last year for cotton crop.

An official said here on Sunday that decision to this effect was taken on the complaint lodged with the district government by cultivators of Chaks 321-GB, 322-GB, 323-GB, 324-GB, 325-GB, 326-GB, 327-GB, 328-GB and 329-GB.

He said farmers had complained that their cotton crop had been completely destroyed during the last season due to virus attack and that they were not in a position to pay abiana and local rate. At this, the district government recommended the provincial government to exempt both the taxes.

BOOKED: Gojra police on Sunday registered a case against former Gojra municipal committee chairman Dr Maqbool Ahmad, his son Zeb Maqbool and their two unidentified accomplices on charges of holding hostage and torturing journalist Nadeem Anwar.