TOBA TEK SINGH: Former chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, M Hamza, announced quitting the PML-N on Sunday and supporting Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

Talking to the media at his residence in Gojra, Hamza said the PML-N leadership’s alleged corruption had been proved by courts due to efforts of Imran Khan, whom he called a “true leader of the people”.

He also alleged that during the previous PML-N government, its parliamentarians from Gojra had earned billions through corruption and the same money was used to purchase votes in the recently concluded elections. He demanded holding of an inquiry into the alleged corruption of PML-N’s lawmakers-elect from Gojra.

Hamza, 89, said he would not be active in politics due to his age but his associates and supporters will continue serving the people of his area from the PTI’s platform. Hamza had been elected as an MNA twice from Gojra and his son, Osama, replaced him in the 2013 and 2018 elections.

RECOUNT: PML-N’s runner-up from PP-123 Pirmahal, Pir Qutab Ali Baba, has warned that if votes in his constituency were not recounted within three days on his application, he and his party activists will be forced to take to the streets. Addressing a press conference on Sunday at Pirmahal, Qutab alleged that the poll in his area was rigged to elect PTI’s Sonia Ali Raza. He criticised PTI leaders and workers for unreasonably blocking roads in Pirmahal for 24 hours to blackmail the returning officer.

KILLED: A farmer was allegedly tortured to death by his three neighbours in Gojra on Sunday.

Police claimed that brothers Shakil, Sharjeel and Naveed exchanged harsh words with 65-year-old Muhammad Saleem in Chak 241-GB Garha over closure of a drain during rain through which rainwater had to flow. The suspects allegedly attacked Saleem and tortured him to death on the spot and injured his two sons seriously. Police were conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

INJURED: Four members of a family were injured seriously when the roof of a room of their house caved in during rain on Sunday in Gojra’s new grain market locality.

Locals said they rescued Mumtaz Bibi, Sahiban Bibi, Zeeshan and Munir, who were admitted to the Gojra THQ Hospital in critical condition. Munir was a Gojra Municipal Committee employee.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2018