SAHIWAL: Regional Anti-Corruption Establishment Court Special Judge Asif Bashir on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of Rs113.1 million corruption case against Khawar Manika and his sons till July 15.

The court had earlier accepted the plea by the counsel for the respondents to exempt Khawar Manika and his son Musa Manika from appearing for the case hearing.

All other accused, including Excise Inspector Allah Nawaz Watto, Patwari Muhammad Ashraf, and Auqaf Department Manager Shafqat were present in the court.

Mr Maneka and his sons were indicted in the corruption cases in the light of a reference filed by Okara deputy commissioner on August 23, 2023.

URS SECURITY: Pakpattan district police will deploy more than 1,600 police officials at different spots for the security of 783rd annual Urs of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar from first to 10th of Muharram.

DPO Javed Chadhar told Dawn on Wednesday that around 273 police officials were performing duties in and around the saint’s shrine, but from 1st of Moharam when the Urs will officially begin, more than 1,600 officials will be deployed at different routes in the city.

“Pakpattan police have demanded around 1,000 police and elite force personnel from other districts for security duties during the 10 days of the urs,” the DPO added.

BANNED: Sahiwal district administration has imposed a 30-day ban on the entry and public addresses of 13 religious scholars from both Shia and Sunni sects during Muharram, citing security concerns.

The curbs have been imposed on Maulana Maviya Azim Tariq, Maulana Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi (Jhang), Ahmed Ludhyanvi (Kamalia), Nouman Zia Farooqi (Samundri), Khadim Hussain Dhaloun (Jahanian, Khanewal), Syed Sajid Naqvi (Rawalpindi), Maulana Abdul Aziz (Khateeb, Lal Masjid, Islamabad), Muhammad Sabtain Shah, Zakir Hussain Abbas, Muhammad Yousaf Rizvi (Sargodha), Maulana Aurangzeb (Karachi), Syed Muhammad Sarwar Shah (Burawala) and Akhter Zaman Atari (Kamalia).

Deputy Commissioner Shahid Mahmood has also asked DCs of adjoining districts to closely monitor the movement of these individuals to ensure they do not enter Sahiwal district during Muharram.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2025