GUJRANWALA: Alam Chowk police on Wednesday registered a case against 400 people, including 16 nominated, on charges of blocking Lohianwala Bypass and surrounding roads for eight hours in connection with the protest staged by paddy growers and farmers.

Reports said Jamaat-i-Islami and Shabab-i-Milli district presidents Bilal Qudrat Butt and Furqan Aziz, PML-J chief Hamid Nasir Chattha’s son Ahmad Chattha, Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) leader former MPA S.A. Hameed and Kisan leaders Dr. Abdul Jabbar, Amanullah, Malik Ramzan, Shahbaz Ahmad, Nadeem Chattha, Asadullah, Ehsanullah, Farooq Oathi, Hafiz Zafarullah, Shahzad Cheema, Imran Yousaf Gujjar and Imran Shahzad Cheema were nominated in FIR No.735/15 while others were unidentified.

Police registered a case against them under section 16-MPO, 431, 505 PPC and sections 3, 4, 6 of Loudspeaker Act. Complainant Alam Chowk police post in-charge Badar Munir Gill said the protesters blocked Lohianwala Bypass intersection and surrounding roads, causing a great deal of inconvenience to people.

He said the protesters refused to restore traffic despite hectic efforts of DCO Amir Jan, CPO Waqas Nazir, SP Nadeem Khokher and Motorway SP Munir Marth.

Police were conducting raid to arrest the suspects.

TRADERS PROTEST: Traders staged a rally and blocked on Wednesday GT Road at Gondlanwala Chowk in protest against imposition of withholding tax on bank transactions and demanded its withdrawal.

The traders led by Markazi Anjuman Tajran cloth markets leaders Sheikh Nazir Ahmad Jammun Waley, Mian Fazlur Rehman and Seth Zulfikar Ahmad were carrying banners and placards and chanted slogans against the government.

They demanded that the government withdraw tax immediately as they were already facing tough time due to loadshedding of gas and electricity.

They alleged that the government was implementing anti-trade policies.

HUMAN TRAFFICKERS: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed on Wednesday to have arrested 100 human traffickers, including 28 proclaimed offenders, two red-book suspects and 23 court absconders during a drive launched against them in August.

Talking to reporters, FIA Deputy Director Khalid Anees pointed out that Rs190 million were recovered from human smugglers who had extorted money from people for sending them abroad.

FIA Punjab Director Usman Anwer appreciated the performance of Gujranwala Circle Inspectors Sajjad Bajwa, Malik Nasir Majid and Ghulam Husnain.

Meanwhile, the agency unearthed an exchange in Gujrat and seized foreign currency.

FIA Assistant Director Muhammad Sarwar said exchange owner Basharat Ahmad was arrested while the raiding party seized 1,300 Suadi Riyals, $50, 125 dirhams, Rs653,350 and documents from his office. He said a case was registered against the suspect.

HEARING: Anti-terrorism court No.1 judge Imtiaz Ahmad on Wednesday continued the hearing of Daska bar president Rana Khalid Abbas and his associate lawyer Irfan Chohan killing case.

The court issued notice to five witnesses for Sept 5 for their evidence and adjourned the hearing.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

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