BAHAWALPUR: The Bahawalpur District Health Authority (DHA) has suspended two health officials for their alleged negligence during the recent anti-polio campaign in the district, after three children missed the vaccination.

DHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Zeeshan Rauf says the action against two field officials has been taken for their failure to administer polio drops to three minor children.

According to the CEO, during monitoring of the recent anti-polio drive in the district and re-checking the data, it was observed that in the jurisdiction of Bahawalpur city Union Council No 2, three minor children, identified as Makki (3), Shaista (2) and Waris (4), were not administered polio drops on April 26.

An initial inquiry showed that the children missed the vaccination because of the negligence of two health department team members – Arif and Sajjad.

The CEO said the three minors were urgently administered polio drops and the two officials, who had shown negligence, were placed under suspension.

He said that after their 90-day suspension, disciplinary action would also be taken against them under the Peeda Act in the light of the findings of an inquiry into the matter.

DEATH SENTENCE: Vehari Additional Sessions Judge Syed Muhammad Umar handed down death sentence and a fine to a man for killing his stepbrother, while his father and an accomplice were awarded jail terms, along with fines, in a murder case.

According to the prosecution, the convict, along with father, had shot his stepbrother Irshad dead over a land dispute in the limits of Luddan police station. Three others had suffered injuries in the firing by the suspects.

The police, after registration of an FIR, had arrested Manzoor, his son Ghulam Abbas and an accomplice, Nasir, and submitted the case challan in the court.

The court, announcing the verdict, awarded death sentence to Ghulam Abbas, along with a Rs1 million fine, while his father Manzoor and Nasir were awarded five and ten-year jail terms, respectively, along with a fine of Rs100,000 each.

Meanwhile, Lodhran Additional Sessions Judge Yasser Hanif sentenced a drug peddler to 20-year rigorous imprisonment (RI), along with Rs850,000 fine.

In case of default on fine payment, the convict will have to under go six-month additional term.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026