BAHAWALPUR: A three-member larger bench of the Lahore High Court(LHC) on Monday restored the nomination papers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate Asghar Joyia from PP-253 (Bahawalpur city), rejecting the appeal of the returning officer (RO) concerned.

Earlier, a Bahawalpur bench of LHC had accepted the nomination papers of Mr Joya, the PTI’s Bahawalpur district president, dismissing the RO’s decision of rejecting his papers.

The RO had challenged the decision before the larger LHC bench against the acceptance of Joya’s nomination papers.

With the rejection of the RO’s appeal by the LHC larger bench, now Joya has become eligible for contesting the Feb 8 election from PP-253.

BOOKED: The Burewala city police on Monday booked at least 63 PTI activists, 13 of them nominated, including two party candidates for allegedly raising slogans against the government, making provocative speeches and instigating the public against Pakistan’s integrity.

According to police sources, the case was registered against the PTI activists on the complaint of Machiwal police SHO.

Those nominated in the FIR include PTI candidates Ms Aisha Jatt from NA-156 (Vehari), her sister Arifa Nazir Jatt , Barrister Khalid Nisar Dogar, a party candidate from PP-231 (Vehari) Shehbaz Dogar, Nadeem and others.

The SHO in his complaint alleged that the two PTI candidates and their workers allegedly delivered speeches against the government, instigating the people to revolt, at a PTI public rally at Machiwal near Burewala on Sunday.

The police sources say no arrest has so far been made. MURDER: A Tableeghi Jamaat cleric allegedly murdered his fellow preacher at a mosque at 34/WB village in Vehari district on Sunday.

According to district police officials, a Tableeghi Jamaat team was staying at a mosque at 34/WB village. During the stay, a team member, Sadiqullah, hailing from Chitral, quarrelled with a fellow cleric, Islam Din, also from Chitral, over some issue.

During the quarrel, Sadiqullah allegedly attacked Islam with a knife, leaving him seriously injured. Islam was being shifted by a Rescue 1122 team to the Vehari DHQ hospital, when he succumbed to his wounds.

The police claimed to have arrested the suspect and started investigation.

HELPLINE: The South Punjab PAK. Helpline has been launched to facilitate people of the region in getting health, education, potable water facilities.

The launching ceremony was presided over by South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) retired Capt Saqib Zafar here.

The speakers including retired Brig Moin Ghazali, Akhlaqur Rehman, Ali Raza Khan and Director Education Abdul Naeem Khan, said the helpline will play a pivotal role in catering to people’s basic needs in many sectors, particularly in health, education and provision of potable water.

ACS Saqib Zafar, in his speech, said the government was committed to promote voluntary services for the neglected segments of society in the far-flung areas of south Punjab.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024