SAHIWAL: Three government officials have been arrested by the anti-corruption establishment (ACE) for accepting bribes in separate cases within the past 24 hours.

In the first case, Qamer Shahzad, a resident of Muslim Bin Aqeel Colony, submitted an application to the Punjab Government Employees Housing Foundation (PGEHF) office for approval of a building plan of a plot measuring one kanal. Sub-Engineer Muhammad Touseef and Clerk Muhammad Mahran allegedly demanded Rs50,000 for the said approval and a deal was finalised for Rs20,000.

Shahzad reported the matter to the ACE regional office and ACE Circle Inspector Sohaib Qasir, accompanied by the area magistrate, conducted a raid and arrested Touseef with marked currency notes in his possession.

In the second case, an operator of the assistant commissioner, Umeer Sabir, allegedly demanded Rs50,000 from a widow named Balqees Bibi for transferring her late husband’s hereditary property in village 96/9-L. A deal was settled at Rs20,000 and Balqees Bibi reported the matter to ACE. Circle Officer Arshad Zaman, along with a judicial magistrate, raided and arrested Umeer Sabir with marked notes. A case was registered on her complaint.

In another case, Patwari Farhan Nawaz allegedly demanded Rs20,000 for transferring hereditary land belonging to Majeed in the name of his son, Zahid Majeed, a resident of village 49-50/5-L, Sahiwal tehsil.

Zahid reported the matter to ACE and Circle Officer Arshad Zaman with area magistrate raided and arrested Farhan Nawaz with marked notes.

A case was registered on Zahid’s complaint.

MURDER: A chicken retailer was allegedly stabbed to death by three brothers over a monetary dispute at Shaikh Jamal Chowk in Pakpattan on Tuesday afternoon.

According to reports, Mahboob Ashraf, who ran a chicken shop at Shaikh Jamal Chowk, was allegedly attacked on the night of April 27 after returning home from work. He was confronted by three armed brothers – Waseem, Muhammad Naeem and Ali – residents of the same locality.

The assailants allegedly snatched Rs52,000 in cash and injured Mahboob by striking him on the head and fled.

His father, Ashraf, rushed out of the house and called the police helpline 15. The Pakpattan City Police arrived at the scene and collected data. Later that night, Mahboob approached the Pakpattan City Police to register a case.

On Tuesday, when Ashraf and Mahboob were on their way to the police station with a written application, the same assailants intercepted them, enraged that the police had been informed. The trio allegedly stabbed the father and son multiple times before escaping.

Ashraf and Mahboob were taken to the Pakpattan DHQ Hospital and Ashraf was referred to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries late on Tuesday night.

The City Police registered a murder case against the suspects, who were yet to be arrested while the reason of the murder was being investigated.

INJURED: The Noor Shah Police claimed to have arrested an injured dacoit, while two of his accomplices managed to escape near Pull Barshan, village 67/4-R, late on Tuesday night.

Reports said Inspector Muhammad Arshad was on routine patrol with his team when a 15 emergency call alerted the police about three dacoits who were looting villagers near 67/4-R.

Police rushed to the site, and upon seeing the police van, the suspects allegedly opened fire. Police claimed the exchange of fire continued for about 20 minutes and the police managed to apprehend an injured dacoit identified as Ghulam Murtaza Kaloo, a resident of village 53/5-L.

His two companions fled under the cover of darkness.

Police claimed to have recovered a 30-bore pistol from the scene and the Noor Shah Police registered a case on the complaint of Inspector Arshad.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026