VEHARI, Jan 19: The year 2001 saw a spate of terrorist incidents in the district.

A total 150 people lost their lives in terror strikes while about 80 people were killed in traffic accidents. The year also saw a rise in kidnap and rape case. In all, 191 people were kidnapped, of them 160 were women, while over 100 women were raped.

Poverty, unemployment and domestic disputes resulted into 28 suicide attempts, of which 18 proved fatal.

The murder of four schoolgirls in cold blood on June 12 and stabbing of 11 members of a family over a family feud in Chak 16-WB terrified the people of the district.

These incidents were followed by the murder of a Shia leader, Syed Ziaul Hasan Kirmani, in Mailsi. He was a cousin of the Okara district Nazim. Haji Ahmad Yar Khichi, the uncle of Vehari district Nazim, was murdered on the Khanewal Road.

Ex-MNA from Vehari, Akbar Ali Bhatti, was convicted by an accountability court.

DBA president: The Pakistan Bar Council annulled the Punjab Bar Council’s ruling and reinstated Nazar Husain Bhatti as the District Bar Association president on Saturday.

Earlier, the Punjab Bar Council, on a complaint by Mr Bhatti’s opposing candidate A. D. Kalim, suspended the former’s election as president. Mr Bhatti and Mr Kalim polled equal number of votes in the Bar elections. The election commissioner recounted the votes and considered two rejected votes and declared Mr Bhatti the winner.

Mr Kalim challenged the decision and the Punjab Bar appointed Taj Muhammad Bhatti acting president till a final decision. Mr Bhatti moved the Pakistan Bar Council against the Punjab Bar’s decision which ordered his reinstatement.