LAYYAH, April 16: District nazim Malik Ghulam Haider Thind and the members of his escort comprising Elite Force thrashed watchman Aslam of the Vocational Training Institute here.

Five women, including councillor Mrs Parveen Akhtar, were present in the office of institute principal to seek financial assistance under the scheme of Pakistan Baitul Maal. As the principal left his office after the closure of institute, watchmen Aslam, according to eyewitnesses, requested the women to leave the office.

They said the women took it as a matter of pride and contacted the nazim who reached there within 20 minutes, slapped the watchmen and ordered his police escort to teach him a lesson.

On receiving information, principal Capt Ahmad Jamal (retired) reached there immediately and saved the watchman.

Institute’s Board of Management president Malik Mumtaz Jhakhar told this correspondent that Pakistan Baitul Maal had launched a southern Punjab specific Rs60 million self-employment project for the VTI-trained graduates. He said 273 former students had applied for financial assistance under the scheme and 73 had been selected.

Mr Jhakhar claimed that the nazim wanted to induct some of his favourites in the list prepared and scrutinised by the Baitul Maal.

He said the woman councillor misguided the nazim which resulted in the incident.

He said the nazim gave Rs2,000 to watchman Aslam.

The watchman, while talking to mediamen, denied receiving any compensation from the nazim.

When contacted, district nazim denied his involvement in the beating of watchman. However, he conceded that the purpose of his visit to VTI was to probe a huge financial bungling committed by the VTI management.

Analysts, however, wondered whether district nazim was competent to probe into the affairs of VTI which was a non-devolved entity.