February 7, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 8, 1427

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GUJRANWALA, Feb 6: A known Shia scholar was shot dead reportedly by highway robbers near here on Monday night.

Dr Syed Kunwar Abbas was returning to Gujranwala after attending a ‘majlis’ in Ahmadnagar when robbers tried to stop his car at a picket. They opened fire when he did not stop. He died on the spot.

DOUBLE MURDER: Two people were shot dead over an old enmity at Dera Sichan near Noushera Virkan on Monday.

Police said Sarwar was on his way home with friends Javed and Munawar from Bhabhar after attending a Majlis-i-Aza. His rival Sajid along with 11 accomplices intercepted them. They opened indiscriminate fire on them and disappeared from the scene. Sarwar and Javed died on the spot while Munawar suffered serious injuries. He was taken to the DHQ hospital in critical condition.

The rivalry has so far claimed seven lives. It is learnt that Javed had murdered a man of the Sajid group.

Noushera Virkan police have registered a case. However, no accused was arrested till now.

TROOPS PATROL: Army troops started patrolling the city on Monday to maintain law and order during Muharram as the Punjab government has already declared Gujranwala as a sensitive area.

Meanwhile, the district nazim banned pillion riding in the district on Muharram 9 and 10. Police force had also been deployed at imambargahs and mosques.

The district administration banned the entry of religious leaders Allama Gulfam of Lahore and Maulana Shabbir Ahmad of Hafizabad in the city.

FACTORY FIRE: A mat manufacturing factory caught fire and reduced to ashes in Ghakkhar town on Monday.

It is learnt that someone threw a burning cigarette butt in the factory as a result of which raw material caught fire which spread in no time.

People of the area and fire brigade put out the fire after an hour’s struggle.

The loss was estimated at Rs500,000 by the factory owner.

CONDEMNED: The District Bar Association on Monday condemned publication of blasphemous cartoons in Danish and other European newspapers and urged the government to sever diplomatic ties with them.

A meeting presided over by DBA president Ilyas Rehan adopted a resolution demanding the government to sever diplomatic ties with them besides expelling the Danish envoy from the country.