September 11, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 10, 1429

ATTOCK, Sept 10: The subsidised wheat flour scheme under the Ramazan package of the Punjab government has become a sudden windfall for smugglers instead of benefiting the consumers in the district.

This is the main reason that the flour crisis could not be resolved despite a number of measures including the release of wheat quota to the flour mills by the food department three weeks back, as most stock is being smuggled to the nearby areas of NWFP from Attock, which has become a green channel for smugglers.

Hundreds of people and Afghan refugees including women and children from different NWFP areas pour into Attock city every morning to buy the subsidised flour (green atta) against Rs300 per 20 kg bag and took it to Khairabad in public transport wagons and buses.

Khairabad is the first town of NWFP on the GT road near Indus bridge after crossing the Attock district, where the carriers sell the 20 kg bag of flour for Rs450 to Rs500 to big stockists as subsidy on the commodity is not available in the NWFP.

Due to absence of police, such carriers disguising consumers purchase the subsidised atta bags from trucks and other local sale points depriving the genuine consumers and local citizens standing in long queues of benefiting from the scheme.

A local stockist told this correspondent that 70 per cent of the buyers were from NWFP and they cannot stop anyone from buying the subsidised commodity due to lack of authority. He said it was the duty of the police and other administrative officials to sort out the smugglers and other outside buyers as the subsidy was meant only for the local consumers.

Besides, a majority of local people particularly unemployed persons are also indulged in this illegal business. Every such person completes three to four rounds between Attock and Khirabad taking two bags on each trip, which earns them Rs1,000 to Rs1,300 per day. The drivers of Peshawar-bound coaches also earn profit from this flour smuggling as they charge extra fare of Rs20 per bag from the carriers by hiding the bags under seats tactfully to deceive the checking staff.

Local people and social circles have called upon the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop the misuse of the scheme by unscrupulous elements.

FLOUR SEIZED: The police have seized 257 flour bags in separate attempts at Attock Khurd, Hazro and Burhan during the checking of vehicles and arrested four drivers.

Lawyers vow to continue struggle: Lawyers of the district bar association (DBA) Attock expressed concern over unnecessary delay in the restoration of the deposed chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, and vowed to continue their struggle till his reinstatement.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, the DBA Attock president, Rana Afsar Ali Khan, expressed the hope that the newly-elected president, Asif Ali Zardari, would reinstate all deposed judges including Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and prove that he was a man of words.

He criticised the anti-lawyer forces for politicising the issue of restoration of judges and trying to create friction among the legal fraternity. The DBA president condemned the ongoing military operation in Swat, Wana and others tribal areas, and said it had not only put the country’s sovereignty and solidarity at stake but also increased terrorism.

Meanwhile senior lawyer and member Supreme Court Bar Association Advocate Sheikh Ahsanuddin said restoration of deposed judges under fresh oath was illegal and unconstitutional.

SIX INJURED: Six persons were injured in separate incidents at different areas of Attock.

Mumtaz Khan, resident, of Gongapind village, has reported to local police that five persons -- Haq Nawaz, Faisal Nawaz, Mubarik Khan, Amir Nawaz and Abbas Khan -- allegedly attacked him, his wife and brother-in-law with wooden sticks for stopping them for digging his agricultural field. As a result, they sustained injuries and were taken to a local hospital.

Rizwan attacked a farmer Lal Khan, resident of Batiot village, allegedly when he tried to restrain him from grazing cattle in his agricultural land.A woman, resident of Dhoke Pattan, lodged a complaint with the police that Muhammad Niaz allegedly attacked her husband Ansar Khan over a family dispute and injured him.

Similarly, Fahad Yameen, resident of Porpiana village, filed a complaint with the police that a veterinary official, Irshad, allegedly attacked and injured him over a minor dispute. Separate cases were registered against the accused by the respective police stations.