GUJRANWALA: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) declared on Saturday Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri and 71 workers proclaimed offenders when they did not appear before it.

The court had already issued arrest warrants for them.

The prosecution told the court the PAT workers had attacked police officials with small spears and clubs and injured more than 76 police officials, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and two station house officers (SHOs) on GT Road near Sadhoki and Ghakkhar Town and burnt police vans during their march on Aug 14.

Kamoki Saddar and Ghakkhar police had registered cases against the PAT chief and workers under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Police submitted charge-sheet against them to court which issued summons and later non-bailable arrest warrants for them but they did not appear in court.

The court has now declared them ‘proclaimed offenders/court fugitives’ and ordered police to produce them in court after arresting them.

The hearing has been adjourned till Sept 5.

KILLED: A girl was shot dead allegedly by her brother over a domestic issue in Dhulley locality.

Reports said suspect Shakeel asked his sister Nabila to iron his clothes which she refused to do. They exchanged harsh words and Shakeel opened fire his sister, injuring her critically. She died on the way of DHQ hospital.

Police have registered a murder case against the suspect while the body was handed over to the heirs after autopsy.

PROTEST: The family and relatives of a Class-IX student of Dhulley area who was found hanging in her classroom blocked GT Road and besieged the Model Town police station in protest against non-arrest of the suspects involved in her death.

Police said the deceased girl was found hanging in the classroom of a private school.

The school administration said she had committed suicide by hanging herself with a ceiling fan in her classroom after failing in three subjects in Class IX annual examination. But her family alleged that she was murdered by the school administration.

Police had a case registered against the school administration without any arrest but the family blocked GT Road to press the police to arrest the suspects.

City Superintendent Police Tahir Maqsood visited family of the deceased girl, assuring them that the suspect would be arrested after postmortem repot from the DHQ hospital. At this, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

COLLEGES: Twelve new degree colleges for boys and girls will be established in the division at the cost of Rs100 million while the feasibilities report has been sent to the chief minister.

This was stated by Director Colleges Ghulam Sarwar Sapra while Speaking at a briefing here. He elaborated that four degree colleges would be set up in Gujranwala, three Sialkot, two in Mandi Bahauuddin and one in Narowal.

CAMPAIGN: The health department has launched anti-dengue drive and constituted seven teams for the purpose.

This was stated by Executive District Officer Health Syed Sakhawat Ali while talking to Dawn.

He said awareness walks would be held in the city with cooperation of government institutions and students.

Published in Dawn, August 31th, 2014