BAHAWALPUR: An accused in police custody was injured in an alleged encounter in the area of the Miranpur Police Station in tehsil Mailsi of district Vehari on Monday.

According to PRO Adnan Tariq of DPO Vehari Essa Khan, Arshad alias Jhara was on physical remand in police custody. He was being escorted to some place for recovery of robbed items when his three accomplices allegedly attacked the police near Kot Muzzafar. As the police retaliated, Jhara suffered serious injuries.

Police claimed that he was injured in the firing of his accomplices though no policeman received any injuries during the incident. A case against the unidentified attackers was registered while the injured Jhara was admitted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Mailsi for treatment.

Police alleged that Arshad Jhara was involved in about 50 cases of theft and robbery in different police stations of Kahror Pucca, Hasilpur and Faqirwali.

WRESTLING: Ali Nawaz won the title of Rustam-i-Cholistan after defeating Abdul Rehman Mani of Sadiqabad in a wrestling bout at the Bahawalpur Stadium.

Ali Nawaz has already got the title of Rustam-i-Bahawalpur which he won last week. Bahawalpur Commissioner Dr Ehtasham Anwar Mahaar gave away the prizes.

ZOO: South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) retired Capt Saqib Zafar has issued the order for upgrade of Bahawalpur Zoo, known as Sher Bagh.

According to an official handout, the South Punjab ACS directed the consultant to submit his proposed master plan of the upgrade within a month. He said special funds for the zoo would be sought from caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

During the inspection of the zoo, the ACS went round various parts of the zoo and termed the Sher Bagh the prime importance recreational centre of South Punjab and as thousands visits it daily, it needed an upgrade. He also directed that the zoo’s income be also utilised for its uplift projects and the maintenance of the zoo’s buildings, cafeteria and sitting area.

The officiating curator, Ali Usman Bokhari, briefed the ACS on the zoo, saying that there were 650 animals and birds in the zoo and 90 animals were temporarily shifted from the Lahore Safari Park to the Bahawalpur Zoo.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2023