19 February 2004	Thursday	27 Zilhaj 1424

BAHAWALPUR, Feb 18: Police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Science and Technology Makhdoom Ali Hassan Gilani, his cousin Amir Shah (union council Nazim) , and 58 other men following a dispute with Uch Sharif police over removal of encroachments.

Two of the PML-Q's youth, Zahoor Ahmad Khan and Ghafoor Ahmad Khan, were arrested. Reports said the FIR against the parliamentary secretary was lodged by Naeem Hassan Siddiqui, tehsil officer (regulation) of the Tehsil Municipal Administration, Ahmedpur East.

He alleged that Mr Gilani, along with his men, had allegedly attempted to stop anti-encroachment operation and tortured the tehsil staff. The Uch Sharif police registered a case under sections 186, 353, 148, 149, 379, and 506 PPC. After the incident on Tuesday, the TMA staff observed a strike which was called off after the registration of a case.

SADIQGARH PALACE: The special committee, constituted by EDO (revenue) Abdul Ghafoor Bhatti, on Wednesday started work to finalize the inventory of the articles found at the Sadiqgarh palace at Dera Nawab Sahib.

The committee with the assistance of the Ahmedpur East revenue department and Safron will inspect the remaining crystal crockery pieces, broken articles, mirrors, furniture, pieces of glass, photo frames, costly chandeliers, broken chairs and sofa sets.

A stock of valuable books was also found at the second storey of the palace. In order to supervise the inventory preparation, the EDO, who is chairman of a special sub-committee assigned the task to auction these articles among the legal heirs and descendants, paid a visit to the palace on Wednesday. The committee has been asked to complete this task within three days after which a date for their auction will be fixed.