BAHAWALPUR: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) claimed to have detected and seized 300 compressors for stealing gas during the last one month.

SNGPL Regional Manager Malik Bashir Ahmed told Dawn that legal action against the owners of the compressors had been initiated and their gas connections were severed. He appealed to the consumers to register their complaints of the theft of Sui gas through compressors in their areas. He said two persons were arrested and cases were registered against them for stealing gas and running illegal gas networks.

To a question, Mr Ahmed said 2,700 new regasified liquified natural gas (RLNG) connections had been provided recently to the new applicants in Bahawalpur. He said RLNG connections, the consumers would have to submit new applications while their old application for Sui gas connections would not be entertained. He added that for new RLNG connections, security fee and other expenditure had been increased. He claimed that presently the consumers in Bahawalpur region were being supplied Sui gas from 5am to 10pm daily without any disruption.

ENCOUNTER: Garha Mor police of tehsil Mailsi in Vehari arrested a suspect in injured condition after an alleged encounter near Pulli 94/ WB.

According to police, a patrol team spotted three suspects coming from a motorcycle and signaled them to stop. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police, which also retaliated. After the exchange of fire, when both sides stopped the firing, one of them was found injured with the “firing of his own accomplices”.

The injured was identified as Nadir Ali, a resident of Chak 122. After scrutiny of police records, the suspect was found involved in 15 cases. He was rushed to hospital for treatment by police while a case against his two fleeing accomplices was registered.

Police recovered a 30-bore pistol from him.

SUICIDE BID: A 60-year-old man attempted to commit suicide by throwing himself in front of the Lahore-bound Pak Business Express near Bahawalpur Railway Station.

Police reached the scene and he was shifted to Bahawal Victoria hospital in serious condition. The man was identified as Siraj Ahmed.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026