SAHIWAL: An anti-corruption court on Friday allowed one-time exemption to Khawar Manika and his son Musa Manika from court appearance in the Rs112 million corruption case against them.

However, Special Judge Asif Bashir reissued non-bailable arrest warrants for Ibrahim Manika, Khawar Manika’s second son, and another suspect, Allah Nawaz Wattoo, an excise inspector, directing the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Okara circle to present them on the next hearing on Nov 26.

Ibrahim Manika has reportedly fled to Spain after obtaining interim bail from the Lahore High Court, while Allah Nawaz Wattoo has not attended even a single hearing since removal of charge sheet against him was rejected by the judge.

The Okara circle ACE had registered a Rs112 million corruption case against Khawar Manika, his two sons, Mr Wattoo, and the Auqaf department manager on Aug 11, 2023, on the direction of the deputy commissioner.

Khawar Manika is accused of illegally capturing Haveli Lakha graveyard land and using the state land for commercial purposes without paying the required conversion fees.

The ACE had registered the case under sections 409, 166 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and PCA section 5/2-47.

Badminton teams: Winning and runners-up teams of badminton for the “Khelata Punjab Games 2024” were awarded trophies and Rs 50,000 cash prizes in a special ceremony held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Friday.

Haris and Sanwal, members of the winning team, informed them that they received calls from the district sports officer to get their prizes.

The local sports management forgot to summon them to the Sports Gymnasium where an event was held to honour the winners on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024