GUJRANWALA, March 30: A man involved in a firing incident fled from District Headquarters Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment of his injury, on Wednesday.

Naushera Virkan police arrested Muhammad Azam after he was injured in a crossfire with his rival and shifted him to DHQ Hospital. Two police constables were deployed there to watch Azam who was also handcuffed during the treatment. It is said that the constables unlocked his handcuffs and allowed him to 'relax'. Azam fled when the policemen took their eyes off him.

Civil Lines SHO Naveed Anwar did not give names of the constables who were escorting Azam. POWER PLANT: The 225MW Hubco Power Plant in Narowal has been made functional, Gujranwala Electric Power Company chief executive Ibrahim Majoka told the Gepco advisory committee at his office on Wednesday. He said construction of major hydropower plants was imperative to meet the energy needs and the government was working on this side.

He said construction of a thermal power plant in the region was at final stage that would decrease power shortfall.

Gepco General Manager (Operations) Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas was also present.

APCA STRIKE: The All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) observed a complete strike here against the government's refusal to accept its charter of demands.

Clerks reached their offices on time and later staged a sit-in. APCA President Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad visited various offices at 11:30am and expressed his satisfaction at the strike. He said clerks would besiege the Parliament House on April 27 if recommendations of the Pay and Pension Committee were not implemented immediately.

WAPDA UNION: The Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union has demanded that the government build hydel and thermal power plants to provide cheep electricity to consumers.

The union said power companies should not be privatised under pressure of the International Monetary Fund or other donors.

Speaking at a workers' convention at the Bakhtiar Hall on GT Road on Wednesday, union secretary-general Khurshid Ahmad said common people and low paid employees were facing hardships due to price hike and unemployment.

Union's regional chairman Iqbal Dar and secretary Waliur Rehman also spoke.