MUZAFFARGARH: The body of Mian Muhammad Hussain, alias Munna Sheikh, a prominent political figure in the city, was discovered on Friday at his outhouse located in neighbourhood Sheikhupura.

The body was found concealed beneath a mattress and a quilt in a locked room.

Mr Sheikh had been reported missing for several days. It appears that he was killed and his body was concealed under the mattress. City DSP Rehan Rasool, along with forensic teams and a large police force, arrived at the scene to collect forensic evidence.

At this stage, the cause of death cannot be determined, stated the city DSP to the reporters. The family members have alleged that he was murdered by unidentified people.

On Friday, some of the family members broke open the locked door and discovered a body wrapped in a quilt and hidden beneath a mattress. Upon identification, they realised that the deceased was Munna Sheikh.

The family alerted the police, leading to a gathering of several people. The police shifted the body to the district headquarters hospital for a postmortem examination.

Munna Sheikh had previously served as the city nazim and had contested provincial assembly elections multiple times under different party banners.

His residence in the city area was always crowded with people, as he was known for his dedication to public service.

During the 2018 general elections, when he ran for elections, he declared his assets in an affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, stating that his assets were worth at Rs4.3 trillion. This made him the richest candidate.

The Election Commission and the Federal Board of Revenue sought further information regarding his taxes. He had close ties with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2023