TOBA TEK SINGH: Faisalabad District and Sessions Judge Javedul Hasan Chishti, with powers as the duty judge of the anti-terrorism court, extended bail before arrest on Saturday until June 1 for PTI-SIC MNA from Dera Ghazi Khan Zartaj Gul.

The extension was granted in a case registered against her by Faisalabad Civil Lines police on May 9, 2023, alleging her involvement in riots following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Ms Gul had previously been granted bail before arrest by the same court.

She told reporters at the Faisalabad District Courts Complex that the country cannot be governed without Mr Khan. She said that the rulers had brought the country to the brink of destruction and that the only solution for the country’s survival was for rulers and all institutions to accept the mandate given to the PTI in the Feb 8 elections.

Despite several PTI activists and leaders holding press conferences to announce their departure from the party after May 9, Ms Gul said, their hearts remained with the PTI.

She claimed that the events of May 9 were orchestrated to cut the PTI to size but resulted in increased popularity for Mr Khan and the party. Scores of PTI workers were present.

Meanwhile, the same court also extended bail before arrest till May 22 of two central leaders of PTI Azam Swati and Qasim Satti.

They were also accused under the same sections and were present in the court.

ACCIDENTS: A man died, and another was critically injured after a crane collided with their motorcycle near the Punjab Highway Patrol police check post on Painsara Road, close to Chak 279 JB Darapur in Gojra on Saturday.

Motorcycle riders Hamza (17) and Asif (25), of Chak 334-JB Tehseldarwala, fell onto the road, with the crane running over Hamza’s head.

Rescue 1122 shifted injured Asif to the Gojra THQ hospital.

In another incident in Gojra, on Jhang Road, a motorcycle collided head-on with a rickshaw near Adda Muslimanian, resulting in serious injuries to motorcyclist Ijaz Masih (56), who later succumbed to his injuries.

At Shorkot Cantonment, Ali Raza (22) of Nawan Chak, died after being struck by a train.

Rescue 1122 said that Raza was engrossed in a mobile phone call and failed to notice the Millat Express train bound for Malkwal, coming from Karachi, resulting in the accident.

In Faisalabad’s Jail Road, Ashiq Ali (72) was fatally struck by a bus while crossing the road.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024