BAHAWALPUR: Lodhran Saddar police claim that an outlaw involved in nine criminal cases was killed in firing by his two accomplices in a crossfire with a police party at a picket at Basti Laiwahan late on Tuesday night.

According to police spokesperson, Shahbaz and his accomplices were apparently planning to commit a dacoity when they allegedly opened fire on a police party after spotting their vehicle in the area.

When the firing stopped, Shahbaz was found dead while his accomplices had managed to flee under the cover of darkness.

The police official claimed Shahbaz was also wanted in the hospital firing case of Nov 12 in which he had injured police constables and fled after snatching an official rifle.

The Lodhran district police officer (DPO) had suspended from service three constables on duty.

Police claimed to have recovered the official rifle snatched from the constable and bullets after the encounter.

ARRESTED: The FIA Multan claims to have arrested a human smuggler from Mian Channu in Khanewal district.

According to FIA officials, Muhammad Hussain had allegedly extorted a sum of Rs2.4 million from Shahyar Khalil to send him to Japan but he took him to Indonesia on a business visa where he left him helpless.

The Pakistani embassy in Indonesia helped Shahryar and also sent a report against Muhammad Hussain to the Pakistan government.

The FIA after an inquiry registered a case under FIR No 423/24 under the Immigration Ordinance against Muhammad Hussain and arrested him.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2025