MUZAFFARGARH: A mob of traders attacked Divisional Forest Officer Iftikhar Ali in Layyah, breaking his car’s front screen and threatening to kill him.

The district administration got a case registered against members of Anjuman Tajraan at the city police station.

The conflict arose when Mr Ali, acting as a price control magistrate, fined a shopkeeper for selling rice at inflated prices. The shopkeeper called the president of Anjuman Tajraan and other traders, who held Mr Ali hostage for hours and attacked him.

Following his release, Mr Ali filed a complaint at the city police station on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Ameera Baidar.

A case was registered under sections 353, 342, 506B, 427 and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code against eight officials of Anjuman Tajraan, seven named shopkeepers, and 10 other traders. Among the nominated names include trader body chairman Tanveer Ahmed Khan, president Azhar Hans and other officials such as Kashif, Yaqub Bhatti, Allah Bakhsh Bhalar and Ahsan.

The shopkeepers named in the FIR are Adeel Hans, Qaiser Ansari, Nasir Gujar, Rana Irfan, Sharif Bodla, Maher Mujahid, Abdullah, Maqsum Thahim and Nadeem.

They are accused of holding Mr Ali hostage, breaking his car’s front screen, and interfering with government duties.

According to the FIR, shopkeeper Muhammad Nadeem, owner of Bodla Super Store, sold rice at Rs300 per kg instead of the government-approved Rs240 per kg. Instead of paying the fine, he called Anjuman Tajraan members, who attacked the government official.

Officials from the Association of Traders denied the allegations, calling them baseless and fabricated.

They said that the price control magistrate imposed an unreasonable fine of Rs20,000 for non-notified items and behaved improperly. They said the officer later admitted his mistake and apologized to Anjuman Tajraan President Azhar Khan Hans and the shopkeeper.

The association warned that they would not tolerate any harm to the self-esteem of traders or the imposition of illegal fines.

They demanded the dismissal of the FIR and threatened peaceful protests and market closures if their demands were not met.

ELECTROCUTED: A woman was electrocuted while pulling out an iron switch near Kamran Flour Mill on Sabzi Mandi Road on Sunday.

Asma Batool, aged 40, died on the spot after pulling out the switch in her house. Her family contacted rescue officials, who transported her to the Muzaffargarh District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors confirmed her death.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024