GUJRANWALA: Anti-Terrorism Court No 2 Judge Itifaq Abassi granted bail on Thursday to 64 workers of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and ordered the police to release them against a Rs100,000 surety bond each.

The workers were arrested for injuring 71 police officials, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Rashid Sindho and two station house officers, at Sadhoki on GT Road in the second week of August while traveling to Lahore to attend their party gatherings in Lahore. Police arrested them in a case that also included the terror act and sent them to the central jail.

These workers submitted affidavits that they would not indulge in such activities in future.

The court adjourned the bail applications of other workers till Friday (today).

The district administration has already extended detention of 300 workers of both the PAT and the PTI for 15 days under the Maintenance of Public Order.

POLICE VAN ATTACKED: Four motorcyclists attacked a police van and got released their two accomplices involved in dacoity cases here on Thursday.

Family members of the accused have rejected the police claim and allege that police want to kill them in a staged encounter.

Police said accused Muzammil Husain Shah and Shahzad Husain Shah, of Bambhawala, Sheikhupura district, were arrested by Kamoke police in dacoity cases.

Police said a team led by Sub-Inspector Tahir Mahmood was taking both the accused to Chajoki village for some recovery.

Near a brick kiln, Nazir Husain Shah, brother of accused Gulfam, and his three accomplices got tyres of the police van punctured and managed to whisk away their two accomplices.

A case has been registered on the complaint of Kamoke Station House Officer Sarfraz Ahmad Ranjha while raids are being conducted for the arrest of the accused.

A close relative of the accused alleged that police wanted to kill both of them in a fake encounter.

He appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court to intervene and save the lives of Muzammil and Shahzad.

DEAD: Four people died on Thursday in separate alleged acts of self killing.

Eamin, class 9 student, was found hanging with the ceiling fan in her classroom after the school.

Neelum, of Wazirabad, died of taking rat killing pills.

Ashiq, of village Mandiala Tega, also took rat killing pills to end his life.

Shamshad, of Farid Town, allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the Upper Chenab canal.

The divers retrieved the body and handed it over to the heirs.

Hamza, of Kamoki, took poisonous pills over a failed affair and was admitted to Gujranwala District Headquarters Hospital where his condition was stated to be serious.

ROBBERY: Gunmen deprived a man of cash and a mobile phone on Sheikhupura Road on Thursday.

Tahir Farooq withdrew Rs100,000 from the bank when near a fan factory three gunmen on a motorcycle intercepted him. They snatched cash and phone from him and escaped.

Sabzi Mandi police registered a case.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014