BAHAWALPUR: Lodhran City Police registered a case against four persons for murder of a bride at a beauty parlour on the day of her marriage.

According to Lodhran police, the victim, Sidra, was at the beauty parlour for bridal make-up before the arrival of her baraat where her paternal aunt’s son, Mudassar, also reached. He tortured Sidra and cut her throat with a knife. He tried to kill himself with the same knife but survived.

According to police, Sidra’s parents had refused to marry their daughter with Mudassar as he was jobless. There was reportedly a fight between the families days before the wedding when Mudassar’s family went to Sidra’s home to stop the marriage.

The murder case has been registered against the prime suspect, Mudassar Mehboob, his father Mehboob and two unidentified persons.

ENCOUNTER: Mitroo police in tehsil Mailsi of district Vehari arrested a criminal in an injured condition after an alleged encounter near Mitroo Pul today.

According to police, a team deployed at the bridge spotted a suspect on his motorcycle. Police officials signaled him to stop for identification but the suspect allegedly opened fire on police who also retaliated.

The suspect attempted to flee on his motorcycle and police chased him. Due to speeding, the motorcyclist hit a roadside tree and fell down. The police officials overpowered him and arrested him.

They shifted him to hospital for treatment.

The suspect was identified as Munir Ahmed, a resident of Chak 113/ WB. Police found that the suspect was involved in 35 cases of robbery and theft in various areas.

ZOO FUNDS: The Punjab government has yet to release the funds to Rs3.4bn for the PC-1 of Bahawalpur Zoo’s revamp.

The funds were sanctioned last year under the Annual Development Programme and the delay in their release postponed the development work at the zoo.

A disclosure to this effect came to light during the brief visit of Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia to the zoo.

The wildlife officials briefed him on the zoo’s development, problems and requirements.Wildlife Director Muhammad Usman Bokhari told Dawn that he was in touch with the officials for the release of the funds and the government might soon release the funds.

According to the zoo administration, Bahawalpur zoo had 1,468 birds, 144 ungulates, 22 primates and 25 carnivores.

INJURED: Four police officials suffered injuries when a mob, armed with clubs and bricks, allegedly attacked a police team that had attempted to recover illegal construction from grabbers at Basti Ramzan of village Dera Izzat in the limits of Bahawalpur Cantt Police Station.

According to police sources, the police, led by SHO Jamshed Karim, had gone to the site of illegal constructions when the mob attacked them and resorted to aerial firing.

Four police officials, namely Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Hakim, Kamran Shehzad and Muhammad Abubakr, suffered serious injuries.

Police registered a case against the attackers.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2026