SARGODHA: The protesters led by ruling PML-N parliamentarians on Tuesday occupied the regional Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) office, while the employees fled the scene to avoid their wrath.

A rally led by PML-N MNA Chaudhry Hamid Hameed, MPA Abdul Razaq Dhillon and MPA Dr Nadia Aziz against the persisting gas shortage was taken out from Block 22.

It was attended by industrial workers and leaders of traders bodies, Bakelite Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Electric Manufacturers Association, printing press owners, dye makers and brass parts manufacturers.

After passing through various parts of the city, the rally reached the SNGPL regional office and besieged the building.

The protesters raised slogans against the SNGPL managing director and the regional manager.

They said the SNGPL authorities had been depriving the people of Sargodha of their legitimate right for the last four months and despite repeated requests and recommendations of parliamentarians of ruling party no one bothered to redress the grievance.

The protesters staged a sit-in at the SNGPL office for several hours and threatened to take gas supply control in their own hands if their demands, including transfer of the company’s regional manager and restoration of proper gas supply were not met.

Because of the protest traffic flow in the city remained suspended . The protesters lauded the role of local parliamentarians who leaving aside all their political affiliations supported the public cause.

According to sources, SNGPL regional manager told the parliamentarians that he had already apprised the high-ups of the issue.

Meanwhile, the sources said, the CM also took notice of the rally against gas shortage taken out in the city which was led by PML-N parliamentarians.

BANK ROBBERY: Armed robbers took away a big amount from a bank branch on Fatima Jinnah Road on Tuesday after taking the staff and visitors hostage.

According to police, four dacoits entered a bank branch on Fatima Jinnah Road on Tuesday morning and made the staff, including the guard and some visitors, hostage, collected the cash and fled away.

After the incident, District Police Officer Sajjad Manj, along with a police team visited the bank and ordered pickets on various roads.

However, police had no clue to the robbers so far.

Neither police, nor the bank manger disclosed the exact amount taken away by robbers.

City police have registered a case.

REPORT SOUGHT: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has reportedly taken notice of the brawl between lawyers and traders and sought a report in this regard from the district coordination officer.

He also directed the district administration to amicably settle the matter between the two parties.

The lawyers pledged to continue courts’ boycott till the transfer of city DSP Rana Murtaza.

Sources said the DPO has sent a recommendation to Punjab police inspector general for the DSP’s transfer.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2015

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