SAHIWAL: Police booked 22 men for occupation of a seminary and the assault of its prayer leader and his family at Chak 149/9-L, Bangla Sherwala in tehsil Chichawatni.

The prayer leader, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed, had established the Ghosia Syeda Kazmiya Anwaar-e-Madina seminary on his own property and registered it in his name. He was residing on the seminary premises with his wife, Sakina Bibi, daughter Maria Mushtaq, and daughter-in-law Rabia Bibi.

In the early hours of Sunday, approximately 22 men, carrying pistols, batons, and sticks, attacked the seminary and broke into it. The assailants dragged Mushtaq and his family members into the courtyard where they tortured him and injured his family. The attackers occupied the seminary for two hours before the villagers called the police.

Ghaziabad police registered a case against 22 men, 10 of them unidentified, including Masood Iqbal, Javed Iqbal, Malik Kashid, Farooq, Zumurad Mehdi, Farooq and Fayyaz.

The complainant alleged that Mufti Sagheer and Riaz, both residents of Chichawatni, were behind the attack. Initial investigation says that there was some property dispute between two parties.

ENCOUNTER: A police constable and suspected robber sustained bullet injuries during an encounter near Chak 136/9-L.

Ghala Mandi police responded to an emergency call regarding three robbers who had snatched a motorcycle from a man, named Muhammad Mumtaz. The police followed the suspects and intercepted them near Chak 136/9-L. The firing continued for 30 minutes.

The suspects opened fire, resulting in injuries to Constable Abid Hussain. A suspect was also wounded in the crossfire. When the firing stopped, police seized two motorcycles and mobile phones. Both the injured were transported to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital.

SHO Amjad Hussain told Dawn the suspect was identified as Amanat Ali while his two accomplices, Alam Sher Odah and Ahsan, escaped.

Police have registered a case.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025