BAHAWALPUR: A young girl allegedly killed herself on Monday while her relative boy made a suicide bid at village Pallah Marri in the suburbs of Hasilpur.

According to police and Rescue 1122, the girl (N) and her relative Iqbal (20) liked each other and wanted to get married.

Their parents opposed their love, leading them to feel dejected.

On Monday, the girl consumed poison and informed the boy by phone. After her phone call, the boy also took poison and fell unconscious.

The girl died after making the phone call.

The boy’s parents called Rescue 1122 that rushed him to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Hasilpur from where he was shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH).

His condition was stated to be serious.

PROTEST: A large number of traders and shopkeepers of held a rally against the Multan Electric Supply Company (Mepco) for power shutdown throughout the day on Monday.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters paraded through the Shahi Bazaar and reached the Farid Gate where they held a demonstration for several hours. They raised slogans against the Mepco officials.

The demonstration disrupted the flow of traffic on roads.

According to the protesters, Mepco had cut the power supply to their shops in Rangeela and Chowk bazaars without any prior announcement and valid reason.

They maintained that due to electricity blackout, their business was badly hit.

However, after appearance of police officials, the traders called off their protest.

The MEPCO officials claimed that due to technical faults, the supply of electricity to some of the areas along the local bazaars remained disrupted on Monday. They expressed hope that the supply would resume on Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2021