KASUR: Local wildlife department on Monday received a fine of Rs200,000 from former Punjab governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar for illegal hunting in border area village Thathi Bukhshi.

Khar along with his 25 companions and hounds was on a hunting spree on Monday when a wildlife team got alerted.

After an exchange of arguments, the former governor and his men moved on their vehicles. The wildlife team set up pickets at Kamal Chishti Mor on Deepalpur Road and toll plaza on Ferozpur Road near Mustafabad.

The team, however, stopped them at toll plaza. After an exchange of argument, the wildlife team imposed Rs200,000 fine and received the amount. The name written on the receipt is ‘former governor Punjab Ghulam Mustafa Khar’.

The fine was imposed under section 38 order 18 Rule 17 of wildlife Act 1974 amended in 2007.

According to wildlife district officer Asim Kamran, at least 50 people, headed by Mr. Khar, were allegedly illegally hunting wild bore and hog deer near Rangers Sandha check post. He alleged that Mr. Khar also threatened the wildlife personnel with dire consequences. He said Khar’s companions were said to be Rangers guests and were allegedly doing illegal hunting.

DO Kamran alleged that Rangers personnel had an argument with the team. He said he would write to the [Rangers] DG about intervention of personnel in protecting the illegal hunters.

ARRESTED: The Kot Radha Kishan Civil Defence personnel on Monday arrested six suspects for running mini petrol pumps at villages Bhamba and Olakh. Kot Radha Kishan police and the civil defence team have registered cases against them.

SUICIDE: An unidentified youth on Monday committed suicide by jumping into the BS Link Canal near Head Balloki in Sara-i-Mughal police precincts.

According to police, a youth in his 20s alighted from a bus at the bridge of BS Link Canal and jumped into the water.

Rescue 1122 recovered the body and handed it over to police who shifted it to Pattoki THQ Hospital for autopsy.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018