OKARA: PPP district president Ashraf Khan Sohna and his supporters staged a sit-in at Gole Chowk to protest against the TMA administrator and the sanitary workers who dumped garbage on road.

Former MNA Chaudhry Sajjadul Hassan, ex-MPA Mian Asghar Jeweka, former PPP provincial ticket-holder Mehr Abdus Sattar (general secretary of the Anjuman-i-Mazareen Punjab), PPP city president Alam Sher Khan Lodhi and many others joined the protest camp.

The PPP leaders hit out at the TMA and asked the Punjab government higher-ups to take notice of the public nuisance the sanitary workers had created by throwing garbage in front of Sohna’s filling station. They chanted slogans against the TMA administrator and staff.

SHO told to look into matter

Ashraf Sohna and Chaudhry Sajjad later called on Sahiwal Division Commissioner Sohail Shahzad who assured them that an inquiry would be conducted into the garbage throwing incident.

Meanwhile, on a petition filed by Advocate Rana Shakil Ahmad for obtaining orders for registration of case against the administration and 50 staffers, Additional District and Sessions Judge Syed Azhar Ali Jafri directed the petitioner to submit application to the SHO of the A-division police station and also asked the SHO to look into the matter.

TMA administrator Sheikh Farid Ahmad told Dawn that an anti-encroachment operation was being carried out on merit as directed by the Punjab government and the DCO was personally monitoring it.

He alleged that a mafia patronised by Ashraf Sohna was feeling threatened as their activities were under check now.

“The conduct of Ashraf Sohna is highly condemnable as he has not only threatened the government officials but also used foul language against him and his workers,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2015

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