OKARA: A man acquitted by a court of a kidnap-cum-rape case, was allegedly shot dead by the complainant party on Tuesday night.

As per the first information report (FIR), lodged by the victim’s brother Javed, Sarfraz returned from Lahore late on Tuesday and called him on his mobile phone, asking him to pick him from Rajowal distributary bridge.

Javed said he went to the canal bridge on motorcycle, picked his brother Sarfraz and as they were returning to Qadirabad, Hujra Shah Muqeem, near BS-Link canal Jandran Kalan bridge two armed men suddenly blocked their way and pushed them from motorcycle onto the ground.

The complainant said that one of the armed men, shot at and critically injured Sarfraz and fled the scene along with his accomplice, taking advantage of the darkness.

The injured man was being rushed to hospital in a car when he succumbed to his bullet wound.

The FIR further reads that in May 2021, Javed and his brothers Ramzan alias Jani and Sarfraz, were booked in a kidnap-cum-rape case (FIR No 171/2021) under sections 376 and 496 A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) by Mandi Ahmadabad police.

However, after trial the court acquitted Sarfraz and Javed (complainant), while Ramzan alias Jani was handed down 10-year jail term and was currently behind the bars.

Javed said that the complainant of the kidnap, rape case was behind the murder of his brother.

Hujra police registered a case under section 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

KIDNAPPED: A man, resident of 38-D village, was allegedly kidnapped and could not be traced even 10 days after he went missing.

As per the FIR registered by City A-Division police, on the complaint of the missing man’s wife Hajran Bibi, her husband Iqbal went to the city to purchase jewellery, but did not return home.

The complainant said the mobile phone of her husband was found switched off.

Acting on the complaint, A-Division police registered a case under section 365 of the PPC against unidentified kidnapper(s).

SEMINAR: The University of Okara (UO), in collaboration with the district police, organised a seminar on ‘Women Safety & Harassment’, besides a career counseling session for the children of the police martyrs.

The events were presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmad.

At the seminar, organised by UO Student Affairs Director Pro Dr Amjad Ali, Renala Khurd Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Monzza Karamat informed the audience about cyber security, privacy breach on social media and precautionary measures for the sale and purchase of smart phones.

She also guided the students regarding the effective use of Women Safety App of the Punjab Police.

On the occasion, the VC said: “Unfortunately, we do not create awareness about such important issues among the students in our educational institutions. It should start from the very beginning.”

He thanked the ASP for providing useful information to the varsity students.

At the career counseling session, arranged by UO Director Dr Nasrin Akhtar, District Police Officer (DPO) Mansoor Amaan said the police authorities were working on a plan to help the children of the martyrs in securing admissions and financial support for their education.

He lauded the VC for arranging such events.

The VC said the teachers should guide the students with regard to their career paths at an early stage of their education. He added that the university would also organise job fairs soon.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2023