SARGODHA: Sargodha’s iconic eagle monument, a symbol of bravery awarded to the city’s people during the Pakistan-India war of 1965, has been relocated from Chak 47 Mor to Club Chowk following the completion of a flyover bridge.

The city, honoured with the Hilal-i-Istaqlal and proudly known as Shaheeno Ka Shehr (City of Eagles), has long held the Eagle statue as a symbol of its patriotic spirit. However, the relocation has sparked criticism from civil society and local social circles who condemned, what they called, poor planning and mismanagement by the authorities.

The critics pointed out that money was frequently spent installing such symbolic monuments, only to later remove or relocate them. In the case of the Eagle monument, it was reportedly installed at a cost of over Rs2m nearly two decades ago and now dismantled and moved due to the flyover.

Earlier, a tall “boy bomb” monument installed near Company Bagh popularly dubbed Bomb Chowk was removed and lost during flyover construction in the same area. Learning from past backlash, the administration this time ensured that the Eagle monument was carefully relocated.

Social circles have urged the district administration to protect the identity of the city besides saving the public money.

ARRESTED: Bhagtanwala police have arrested a lady doctor and three women in connection with the illegal abortion and abandonment of a newborn who was later found dead.

Reports said police received information that three women had fled after dumping a newborn baby on debris in the area of Chak 23, Mandewali Main Road. Upon investigation, the police recovered the body of the deceased infant and launched a probe into the incident.

Following the lead, police traced and arrested four women, including the newborn’s mother and the lady doctor allegedly involved in the abortion. During preliminary questioning, the suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement.

Police shifted the body to THQ Hospital for post-mortem examination and registered a case. Further investigation is under way.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025