SARGODHA: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar during his visit to Sargodha on Tuesday suspended the Bhera assistant commissioner (AC) from service and ordered the police to register a case against him for power theft.

Mr Buzdar also inspected four Ramazan bazaars but the public was barred from meeting him. Dawn learned some officials were present in the bazaars posing as customers. When a journalist tried to inform the chief minister about the fake customers, his security detail did not allow him to speak to the chief minister.

The chief minister also directed the Bhera police to register a power theft case against AC Wasiq Abbas after a Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) team raided his official residence and found direct power supply to the residence late on Monday. Fesco officials’ attempt to get a case registered remained futile. Then the matter was conveyed to the chief minister, who took the action immediately.

Announces mega schemes during whirlwind visit to three districts

The chief minister also visited the district jail and announced a two months’ remission to prisoners on Eidul Fitr and also ordered a fresh inquiry into a murder case involving a minor boy and also told the superintendent jail to provide TV to him. Mr Buzdar said the government was providing billions in subsidies for the public, so the administration must ensure provision of relief to public at large. He ordered action against the hoarders of wheat and sugar. He met MNA Chaudhry Amer Sultan Cheema, Provincial Minister Ansar Majeed Khan and Sargodha Development Authority chairman Mumtaz Akhtar Kahilon and assured them of provision of special funds for a ring road, Sargodha-Lahore Road and Sahiwal-Jhang Road. PTI workers, particularly lawyers, were critical of the local PTI leadership for not allowing them to meet the chief minister. Mr Buzdar also permitted purchase of machinery for the Sargodha Municipal Corporation and recruitment of drivers as well. He also announced setting up of a 250-kanal public park in Sargodha. He agreed to set up a trauma centre in Sargodha.

CHINIOT: The chief minister inspected a Ramazan bazaar at Tehsil Chowk in Chiniot where he met people and asked them about the quality and prices of commodities. He himself checked vegetables, fruits, sugar and atta. He also distributed environment-friendly cloth bags among the public to raise awareness against hazards of shopping bags. Several reporters gathered there and tried to approach the chief minister. Chaos ensued and the chief minister could not talk to the media. A man came in front of his car, forcing the squad to stop the caravan. The man complained that the Saddar police were not taking action on his complaint. The chief minister directed the Chiniot district police officer for strict action against cops.

Also, Mr Buzadr met MPA Mehr Taimoor Lali, MNA Mehr Ghulam Muhammad Lali and PTI district president Shaukat Thaheem at Chiniot Circuit House. They demanded the reconstruction of Chiniot-Faisalabad Highway, construction of the district complex and the district headquarters hospital. The chief minister assured them to accommodate these mega schemes in the upcoming budget.

JHANG: The chief minister said Jhang would be elevated to the status of a model city. He said this in a meeting with Jhang district representatives. He said funds would soon be released for the repair and upgrade of Jhang-Faisalabad and Jhang-Shorkot roads. He also directed the departments to take immediate measures to resolve sewerage problems of the city. He visited the Jhang District Headquarters Hospital and asked the authorities to improve facilities in wards and upgrade Ghulam Nabi Ward and paediatrician ward. He also laid the foundation stone of a Rs70 million shelter home on the hospital premises. Afterwards, he visited Darul Aman and announced a Rs100,000 eidie for the inmates. He also announced the construction of the tehsil complex for the Ahmadpur Sial, and the posting of a DSP at Athara Hazari. He also ordered the preparation of a feasibility report for the upgrade of the Shorkot Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2019