GUJRAT: The Gujranwala police claimed to have arrested three police officials, including a station house officer (SHO), on the charges of booking a man in a fabricated case, kidnapping him and extorting money from him.

The action was taken after a man, Ghulam Sarwar, filed a complaint against the Sabzi Mandi SHO Inspector Luqman, Sub-Inspector (SI) Ghulam Fareed and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Khalid with the Gujranwala city police officer (CPO).

The complainant alleged that the police officials had first registered a false case against him and later kidnapped him. He said that during his illegal detention, the suspects forcibly got his signatures on a stamp paper and extorted a hefty amount from him.

Taking notice of the complaint, CPO Ayaz Saleem assigned an inquiry into the matter to Gujranwala SSP Ghayur Ahmed, who in his report, declared the three police officials guilty.

A spokesman for Gujranwala police says that on the CPO’s orders, the suspects were booked under sections 365 and 386 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 155-C of the Police Order, and were arrested. He says the suspects have been locked up in the police station where they were posted.

The CPO says that as the police officials involved in any illegal activity tarnish the department’s image, they will never be spared and stern legal and departmental action will be taken against them.

RESTORATION: Punjab Tourism and Archaeology Department Secretary Dr Ihsan Bhutta visited the historic Ram Piyari Mahal (palace) in Gujrat to review the ongoing restoration and refurbishment work on the site.

During the visit, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Qadir Zarkoon gave a detailed briefing to the secretary on the restoration of the historical site.

Mr Bhutta gave various directions to the archaeology department officials working on the site and told them to ensure that the quality restoration work is completed within the stipulated time.

The AC emphasised that the preservation of historical and cultural heritage is a key priority of the Punjab government as such initiatives not only promote tourism, but also foster intercultural harmony.

The secretary underscored the historical significance of Ram Piyari Palace and stated that comprehensive measures are being taken to highlight the site on the province’s tourist map.

The palace was built by Sundar Das Chopra, a pre-partition Hindu contractor of Dinga town, located about 55km from Gujrat city, for his third wife, Ram Piyari, in 1918.

The road on which the building is located was also once known as ‘Ram Piyari Road’, but was later renamed as Circular Road that now passes by the Sohni Bazaar, a market of pottery and ceramics in the city.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025