BAHAWALPUR: A shopkeeper died while his co-worker was injured in a gas cylinder explosion at Darbar Chowk, Hasilpur, about 90km from here on Monday.

According to Rescue 1122, Allah Wasaya (35) was busy in work at his shop when the cylinder exploded, killing him on the spot while his co-worker Saqlain Shah (20) suffered serious injuries. Shah was shifted to the tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospital where his condition was stated to be serious.

SHRINES: The Auqaf department has beefed up security at 37 shrines and mausoleums of the division at a cost of Rs20m.

Auqaf department’s divisional manager for Bahawalpur division, Ayyaz Lashari, told Dawn there were 10 shrines around which boundary walls had been built and CCTV cameras and barbed wires had been installed. He said the facilities like drinking water and washrooms at with shrines had also been provided.

Mr Lashari said the shrines where boundary walls had been built included that of Channan Pir near Yazman where the festival attracted thousands of devotees from across the country.

He said it was for the first time during the previous several years that such a big allocation by the Auqaf department had been utilised to strengthen the security measures.

It may be recalled that this year, the Channan Pir Mela was banned due to terror threats with the result that thousands of devotees were disappointed and disallowed to visit the shrine in the desert.

Meanwhile, the Punjab police high-ups have directed the local police and other law enforcement agencies to be vigilant about the movement of 97 extremists belonging to three districts of the division.

ELECTED: Malik Muhammad Ijaz Nazim, Hafiz Jawad Hassan and Umair Saleem have been declared elected unopposed as president, senior vice-president and vice president, respectively of the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

According to a press release, no other candidates filed nomination papers against them. They would take oath to their offices on Sept.27.

ARRESTED: A Muhafiz Force head constable was arrested on charge of drinking.

According to the sources, Safdar Bhatti who was on duty had resorted to hooliganism at the Islamia University Chowk after drinking. The Civil Lines police arrested him, registered case against him and lodged him in the lock-up of the Baghdadul Jadid Police Station.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2017