TOBA TEK SINGH: A class nine student abducted from outside her school in Jhang on Thursday was recovered on Friday and the kidnapper was arrested.

Complainant Allah Ditta of Ward No 8, Jhang city, stated in his FIR registered under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code that his daughter, Aliza Bibi (16), went to her school in Basti Shahni Wali but did not return. Witnesses informed him that Ziafat Ali of Siddiqabad had abducted her.

A police team formed by DPO Bilal Iftikhar Kiani traced the suspect using geo-fencing and modern technology, arrested him in a raid, and recovered the girl.

SHOT DEAD: Dr Saqib Iftikhar, a physiotherapist, was shot dead in a targeted attack on Bhai Wala Road in Faisalabad on Saturday.

Police said Dr Iftikhar was returning home when two motorcyclists intercepted him. As he tried to flee, they followed him and one of them shot him in the head near a National Bank branch.

He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital.

FOUND MURDERED: A trader, kidnapped for ransom from Kamalia on Jan 14, was found murdered near Enayat Ali Shah canal bridge on Saturday.

Kamalia City police had registered a kidnapping case under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Muhammad Hanif Bhatti, uncle of the deceased, Rafiq Ahmad Bhatti. Sources said the kidnappers killed him after failing to get the ransom. Investigations are underway.

ROBBER KILLED: An alleged robber was killed in an encounter with Arrouti police in Pirmahal tehsil on Saturday.

Police claimed four robbers were looting people on Pirmahal-Darkhana Road near the M-3 motorway bridge. When police arrived, the robbers hid in a sugarcane field and opened fire. One robber, identified as Ramzan Daari of Pakpattan, was found dead after the firing ceased, reportedly hit by bullets from his accomplices. The others fled.

Police said Daari was involved in numerous robberies across the province.

JI RALLY: A large rally, led by Jamaat-i-Islami district emir Dr Attaullah Hameed, was held in Gojra on Saturday against the hike in electricity tariffs.

Participants marched through roads and gathered at Malkanwala Chowk, where JI leaders claimed that the cancellation of agreements with five IPPs was due to their movement.

They vowed to continue until similar agreements with over 15 other IPPs are cancelled.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2025