SAHIWAL: Three Mepco officials were suspended from service on Thursday over the death of two private mechanics who were electrocuted while repairing a 200KV transformer without following SOPs at village 90/6-R, near Mai De Maseet on Wednesday.
Sahiwal Mepco Superintendent Engineer Abdul Nazir Fani and EXEN Muhammad Arshad compiled an inquiry report, stating that without following standard procedures, the repair work was given to private mechanics.
In this context, the Mepco chief engineer suspended Civil Line SDO Zulficar Ali Hyder, Line Superintendent Muhammad Riaz and Lineman Muhammad Sharif from service for negligence.
A Mepco headquarters team has also started further investigation into the death of the two mechanics.
INHUMAN TREATMENT: Yousafwala police on Thursday registered a case against four suspects for subjecting a villager to inhuman treatment at Chak 61/5-L, Pakpattan tehsil.
Reports said four men captured Muhammad Ahmed, a local resident, dragged him to Abdul Hafeez’s dera (farmhouse), shaved his head, smeared his face with black ink, placed a wreath of shoes around his neck, and paraded him through the village streets on a donkey.
The police registered a case under sections 342, 355, 337, 556, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on Muhammad Ahmed’s complaint. Sources confirmed that two of the suspects have been arrested, while efforts are underway to arrest the remaining two.
Investigations revealed that Muhammad Ahmed had a recent dispute with Abdul Hafeez, one of the suspects, over an exchange of harsh words and abuses in a public place. On Thursday, Abdul Hafeez, along with his accomplices Zakir, Khurram Shahzad, and Shahbaz, allegedly carried out the attack.
Police are raiding to arrest the other two suspects.
STABBED TO DEATH: A man was stabbed to death with scissors by three individuals after he intervened to stop them from harassing women in a public place on Dispensary Road on Wednesday evening.
Reports said Muhammad Shahid, a resident of Dispensary Road, had gone out to buy shwarma for his children. While in the main bazaar, he noticed three young men verbally and physically harassing women and girls passing through the area.
Eyewitnesses reported that Muhammad Shahid confronted the youths identified as Farhan Fani, Hyder Kaka, and Ali Jaffari, asking them to stop their inappropriate behaviour. During the altercation, Farhan Fani ran into a nearby barber shop, grabbed a pair of scissors, and stabbed Shahid in the stomach. Witnesses said Shahid sustained multiple stab wounds, collapsed, and died on the spot.
Rescue 1122 arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. The three attackers fled before police arrived. Ghala Mandi police later arrested main suspect Farhan Fani and registered a murder case under sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of Muhammad Abid, the deceased’s brother and a rickshaw mechanic.
Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2025
