MUZAFFARGARH: MNA Jamshed Dasti was presented before City Magistrate Naeem Bhatti on Friday and sent to the Multan central jail on a two-week judicial remand.

Pakistan Awami Raj General Secretary Rana Mahboob Akhtar condemned the arrest of the party president and alleged the Punjab government was victimising Mr Dasti fearing defeat in the next general elections.

He said the illegal arrest had made the MNA a hero for he had opened the channel of the headworks only for small farmers and not for his own farms.

On Friday, dozens of people protested against the Punjab government and demanded Mr Dasti’s release.

He was arrested on Wednesday with Shah Jamal Union Council Chairman Ajmal Kalro after the Karamdad Qureshi police registered a case against him sections 353, 430, 148, 149 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code on an application by the Kot Addu irrigation sub-division officer.

Irrigation Executive Engineer Mehr Riaz Akhtar said Mr Dasti had forcibly released the water into that Dinga canal which was closed under a rotational programme because of the shortage of water in the Muzaffargarh canal.

He said his staff informed Mr Dasti about the situation but he threatened them with consequences. He said now the water had been released into the minor canal.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2017