September 13, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1424

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FAISALABAD, Sept 12: Wapda Managing-Director Ghayyasuddin on Friday refuted the claims of villagers residing along the Jhang Branch canal that installation of tubewells in the area would lower the underground water level.

He said some people had been trying to politicise this project involving huge funding.

In a statement, Wasa chief said the tubewells’ installation on the proposed site would not affect the water level. The project aimed at facilitating people, whose apprehensions would be eliminated. He said reports submitted by water experts had mentioned that there would be no decline in the water level in the area.

Wasa, he said, was currently providing potable water to 45 per cent of the district’s population, and efforts were being made to enhance the figure. Underground water in the district was brackish and unfit for human consumption, he said, adding this forced the agency to arrange sweet water for the citizens.

Hundreds of villagers on Thursday demonstrated against the plan to install tubewells along the Jhang Branch canal, and warned of a protest movement against Wasa.

GANG-RAPED: A labourer’s daughter was gang-raped by four people in the presence of her family at Chak 225-RB, on Thursday night.

Reports said Rashid, Papu, Anwar and an unidentified man stormed into the labourer’s house and raped his daughter at gunpoint.

Police have registered a case against the suspects with no arrest so far.

ARRESTED: Sargodha Road police claimed on Friday to have arrested a boy, who was nabbed committing blasphemy.

Hafeez Mushtaq, 24, allegedly torn apart and set ablaze the Holy Quran after picking it from a mosque at Taj Colony. Some people overpowered Hafeez and gave him a sound beating before handing him over to the police.

A case has been registered against him under section 295-B of the Blasphemy Act.

During preliminary interrogation, the boy said he found some typographical mistakes in the Holy Quran, so he decided to set it ablaze.