SAHIWAL: A journalist was shot at and critically injured allegedly by two dacoits during a dacoity on Dipalpur Road on Friday night.

Police said Malik Hussnain, an electronic media journalist, was returning from Bunga Hayat to Pakpattan when around 11pm his motorcycle was intercepted by two dacoits near 13/SP.

As the dacoits tried to snatch his motorcycle, Hussnain offered resistance, upon which one of the criminals shot at him. Suffering a bullet wound to his chest, Hussnain fell on the ground while dacoits tooke away his mobile phone, cash and motorcycle.

On being informed of the incident, a team of Pakpattan Sadar police rushed to the scene and collected evidence from the crime scene. The inured man was shifted to Pakpattan District Headquarters Hospital by Rescue 1122.

Sahiwal Regional Police Officer (RPO) Mahboob Rashid, took notice of the incident and directed the District Police Officer (DPO) Tariq Valayat to get the dacoits arrested as soon as possible.

The DPO told Dawn on phone that a special team headed by Sadar Circle Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Tariq Awan, had been formed to arrest the culprits. He also visited the DHQ hospital and inquired after the injured journalist.

Hospital sources said because of his critical condition, the journalist was later referred to a Lahore hospital.

The office-bearers of the Pakpattan Press Club strongly condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the suspects.

The DPO assured the local media persons that the culprits would be arrested within 48 hours.

Sources say that on the orders of the DPO, the police detained eight suspects and were interrogating them in connection with the dacoity.

KIDNAPPED: Police have registered a kidnap case around a year after disappearance of a young man of Ghala Mandi area on the complaint of the victim’s relatives.

Fayaz Ahmed told the media that his maternal nephew Niaz had gone missing on June 27, 2022. He said they had been trying to trace the missing man for around a year, but to no avail.

Ghala Mandi police have registered a kidnap case against unidentified persons under section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Fayaz.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2023