NAROWAL: The Shakargarh city police registered a first information report (FIR) on Monday against Dr Shaukat Saleem and his employees after his dogs injured 11-year-old Arij Fatima on Sunday.

The FIR, lodged at the request of Muhammad Waqas, the uncle of the injured girl, includes charges under sections 337 F1, 337 F2, 289, and 290 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Arij is receiving treatment at the Shakargarh Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Journalist Irfan Khan from Shakargarh said that Dr Saleem had retired from the position of chief executive officer of the Health Department a few years ago. He added that although the girl is still traumatised by the incident, her condition has improved.

Local residents Mohammad Waris and Sadiq Ali have voiced concerns about the large number of stray dogs in the city and surrounding villages. They said that they have repeatedly requested the municipal committee and the district administration to take action against the stray dogs, but no action has been taken.

On Sunday, while Arij was on her way to a water filtration plant to fetch drinking water, she was attacked and injured by four or five pet dogs of Dr Saleem.

Residents have urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take immediate notice of the situation and address the growing concerns regarding stray dogs in the area.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024