TOBA TEK SINGH: The change in the procedure for obtaining stamp papers, introduced by the Punjab Board of Revenue (BoR), is causing problems for the students under the age of 18 years who apply for domicile and provincial government scholarship.

The BoR has changed the procedure, making it mandatory to enter registered mobile phone number of the applicant and a copy of his/her valid Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) for the issuance of stamp paper. Haji Muhammad Sadiq, a resident Gojra told Dawn that, after entering the required data, a one-time password is issued to applicant to obtain a stamp paper.

He said this rule is problematic for the students under 18 years, who require a Rs300 stamp papers while applying for a domicile.He said although this change will solve the issue of fake stamp papers to some extent, but under-18 students have been denied the right to apply for a domicile.

Similarly, he said, the students application for the Punjab government scholarships also required a stamp paper, for which the last date is Sep 30.

He requested Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to order withdrawal of the decision regarding the change in the procedure for the issuance of stamp papers at the earliest to solve the problems being faced by underage students in applying for domicile and scholarships.

CCD ‘ENCOUNTER’: Faisalabad’s Lyallpur Town Crime Control Department on Monday claimed to have killed two suspects allegedly involved in a rape-cum-dacoity case in an “encounter” near Jojywala Pul area on Monday.

Police claimed that six suspects riding two motorcycles were signaled to stop by police at a picket, but they opened fire on the police party.

They said the police returned the fire, leaving two of the suspect dead on the spot, while others fled the scene.

According to the police, the dead suspects, identified as Mohsin Suleman and Zeeshan alias Shani, had a criminal record and were also involved in a case of raping four women during a house robbery.

LAID TO REST: A traffic warden, Saqib Nadeem, who was shot dead by two unidentified motorcyclists in Bannu Cantonment area of KP on Saturday evening was buried in a graveyard at his native village, Chak 380 JB, Toba Tek Singh.

Faisalabad Chief Traffic Officer Javed Nasir Rana and scores of locals attended the funeral prayers. Saqib had gone to Bannu, along with a relative, to supply chicken.

ARRESTED: Ghulam Muhammadabad police, Faisalabad, arrested on Monday a PTI activist who was convicted in a May 9 rioting case.

As per police, PTI worker Asim Ansari was handed down 10-year jail term by Faisalabbad anti- terrorism court in a case of May 9 riots.

The police say that Ansari was a court absconder who was arrested in a raid.

STRIKE ENDS: On thethird consecutive dayof ashutter-down strikeby shopkeepers inSindhillanwali town, Pirmahal tehsil, traders ended their protest on Monday afternoon following the appeal of Pir Qutab Ali Baba, a former PML-N MPA and caretaker of the shrine of Hazrat Qutab Ali Shah.

Pir Ali Baba addressed a gathering of shopkeepers, announcing that theArrouti police had quashed the FIRregistered against105 traders, acting upon court orders.

He saidnot a single shopkeeper was in favour of conflict with the administration over the issue of removing encroachments. He said the torture of traders was unjustifiable as half of town had already been cleaned of encroachments. Markazi Anjuman Tajiran office-bearers announced on the occasion to open shops, extending honour to Pir Qutab Ali Baba.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2025