SAHIWAL: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned the managing director (MD) of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Multan, over violation of code of conduct and initiating development work in NA-157, Multan IV, where a by-election is scheduled for Oct 16.

The Wasa MD was called by the district monitoring officer, NA 157, regional election commissioner office in Multan after a complaint was filed by Ali Musa Gillani – contesting election on a PPP ticket from the constituency.

The MD was asked to appear in person on Sept 21 (today) and explain his position on the start of development work in Union Council 53, Basti Masoom Shah.

Mr Gillani had said that under the ECP notification all development work was banned in the constituency but Wasa had illegally started development work.

It is learnt that the ECP on Sept 14 had issued the direction of stopping all kinds of development works by any state or semi-state agency in the NA 157, Multan.

BOOKED: Ghala Mandi police booked 13 persons for physically abusing a family and tried to occupy a residential plot at Mohallah Noor Park.

A woman lawyer, Afshan Zareen, member of the district bar council, approached District Police Officer Sadiq Baloch against the attack to occupy the land she was residing in by the land mafia.

Ghalla Mandi SHO Mudassar Gaffar said police after an initial investigation and visit to the site found the lawyer’s claim to be true and booked Muhammad Aftab, Javed alias Jada, Arshad and Muhammad Mushtaq along with their 11 unidentiifed accomplices on the complaint of Muhammad Waqar.

Waqar’s father had bought a 3.5 marla house located in Street 1, Mohallah Noor Park in 2019. Waqar was also interested to buy the remaining three marla portion from owner Razia Zulfikar and gave the house for rent to Muhammad Ramzan. It is said land grabber took ‘degree’ from Civil Judge Munaza Afzal and physically tortured Ramzan’s family for vacating the house.

An eyewitness said Ramzan and his family, including lawyer Afshan Zareen were tortured and pushed out of the house.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022