MUZAFFARGARH: Saddar police on Saturday registered a case against MNA Jamshed Ahmad Dasti along with 20 others for allegedly threatening a price control magistrate and interfering in official work.

Police registered the case sections 506, 427, 353, 186, 148, 149 of Pakistan Penal Code along with the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Ordinance 2023, -7- and 10.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Sanaullah, who was also acting as the price control magistrate, a team was conducting an inspection to ensure compliance with official pricing regulations.

During the inspection, they found that vegetable seller Arif and chicken seller Mubeen were charging excessively high prices. The price control magistrate fined them Rs1,500 and issued a challan.

The vegetable seller and others called MNA Jamshed Dasti, who arrived at the scene with 20 others. He allegedly threatened the magistrate, obstructed the official proceedings, tore the fine book and challan, and damaged the official vehicle. According to the RTA secretary, the shopkeepers had affiliations with Jamshed Dasti, who threatened the administrative team.

The officials later contacted the deputy commissioner, who ordered the case to be registered against Jamshed Dasti and his accomplices for their actions and the damage caused to the government vehicle and fine book.

When contacted by Dawn, Dasti alleged that the government officials were harassing vegetable sellers and others who operated roadside carts without shops. He claimed that he would not tolerate the imposition of illegal fines on poor daily wage earners.

Dasti also accused RTA Secretary Sanaullah of corruption, alleging that he received bribe from wagon stand operators and transport owners, and stated that he had proof of these activities.

Dasti said he he would start a campaign against Deputy Commissioner Mian Usman Ali.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2024