May 30, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

BAHAWALPUR, May 29: The complainant in a murder case of nine family members of Luddan Riasti village alleged that the police had arrested his innocent relatives instead of rounding up the accused nominated in the FIR.

Allah Ditta, a relative of the deceased family, told reporters at the Press Club here on Thursday that accused union council nazim Aghaz Shah and Iqbal Shah had a dispute with deceased Muhammad Ibrahim over a piece of agricultural land.

He alleged that the police were providing protection to the nominated accused who were moving freely and threatening him with dire consequences.

The complainant further alleged that police had implicated his relatives in the murder case at the behest of the influential political figures of the area.

Apprehending his arrest as well, he said, the police were reluctant to lay hands on the influential accused.

Ditta said he also met with the DPO and RPO and requested them to change the investigation from the Qaimpur police station.

It may be mentioned that nine family members had been murdered about a month back. Qaimpur police claimed that they had arrested three killers -- deceased’s nephew Ramzan, son Habibur Rehman and servant Rab Nawaz.

CONDEMNS: Former PML-Q MPA Syed Tabish Alwari condemned the government’s move to shelve the Kalabagh Dam project. Reacting sharply against the Wapda minister’s announcement, Mr Alwari said in his statement that the KBD was an inevitable project for the country’s agriculture.

DROWNS: A 15-year-old boy drowned in a canal near here on Thursday.

Reports said that Muhammad Imran had gone with his friends for a picnic. His body could not be fished out till the filing of this report.