FAISALABAD: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) registered a case against 10 people, including the district officer of the Rescue 1122 and former Saddar SHO, and administration of the Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company for setting up an illegal cattle market at Niamoana on the state land.

The case was registered on the complaint of City Assistant Commissioner Ayub Bukhari who had launched an operation and removed the illegal cattle market on June 27.

Submitting the application, Mr Bukhari alleged the illegal cattle market had been set up on the state land measuring 19.3 acres, which was allotted to the Rescue 1122 by the Punjab government. He said Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Ehtsham Wahla, Saddar SHO Ayub Sahi and others were responsible for helping the fraudsters set up the illegal cattle market.

He said the fraudsters had collected more than Rs15m from the cattle sellers and the visitors.

The ACE booked Ehtesham Wahla, computer operator Maqsood Ahmed, driver Asif Ali and private contractors Kashif Khan and his brother Wasif Khan under various sections of the PPC.

The FIR reads that role of the SHO, ASI Amjad, in-charge establishment branch of police department Zikaria, Ashraf Gondal, contractor of the cattle market and administration of the Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company would be determined in the investigation.

No arrest has been made in this case so far.

The application was forwarded to the ACE by AC Bukhari about a month ago.

Officials of the Rescue 1122 claimed the state land adjacent to the Niamona cattle market was being used for sale of the sacrificial animals by the land grabbers and extortionists for years.

They said at Chak 235-RB Niamona, approximately 40 acre land, including 10 acres of District Council, 12 acres of PHA and 19 acres of Punjab Emergency Service, was lying without any boundary.

The illegal cattle market is not only established on the land of the Rescue 1122 but also on the land of district Council and Parks and Horticulture Authority along with private owned land of about 10 acres, they claimed.

Three cases had been registered against this gang of fraudsters who extorted money from the sellers who had come to the market from different areas.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Ill omens
Updated 12 Feb, 2025

Ill omens

One wonders whether institutional leadership realises the long-term ramifications of the ongoing "remaking" of judiciary.
Sunken dreams
12 Feb, 2025

Sunken dreams

ANOTHER tragedy has struck Pakistani migrants seeking a better future. A boat capsizing off the Libyan coast has ...
Hate in India
12 Feb, 2025

Hate in India

HISTORY shows that rulers use hate speech to provoke hate crimes and ‘othering’ among communities. Indian Prime...
IMF scrutiny
Updated 11 Feb, 2025

IMF scrutiny

Strengthening foundations of the economic superstructure will help make the economy competitive and boost growth.
Shadow voices
11 Feb, 2025

Shadow voices

OVER the weekend, another ‘open letter’ addressed to the army chief and attributed to former prime minister ...
Paradise at a premium
11 Feb, 2025

Paradise at a premium

PAKISTAN’S recent triumph at the New York Travel and Adventure Show 2025, winning the Best Partner Pavilion Award,...