BAHAWALPUR: A security guard was killed while another suffered critical injuries on Saturday when a large number of people tried to enter a circus without tickets at the Mela Pir Jeewan Sultan at Dhanote in the Kahrore Pucca area of Lodhran district.

Dawn learnt that after the killing of the security guard, the district administration Lodhran cancelled the no objection certificate (NOC) issued for the festival, circus and other celebrations, which were wound up on Saturday.

According to police sources, when several people attempted their forced free entry without tickets in the circus, the security guard Ijaz, belonging to the Luddan area, stopped them at the gate. The intruders started fighting with Ijaz and his colleague Faheem Niaz, who were allegedly attacked with knives and were stabbed.

Meanwhile, police deployed at the festival reached the scene but by then, the attackers had fled. The police officials shifted both the injured to hospital where Ijaz succumbed to his wounds while Faheem was being treated by doctors.

Spectators attacked the guards with knives in bid to enter circus without tickets

Dhanote police told Dawn that on the complaint of Ijaz’s brother Ghulam Abbas, a case was registered against two Dilshad, Sarfraz and several unidentified attackers.

The police claimed to have arrested both the nominated suspects. The Dhanote police officials after the completion of legal formalities handed over the body of Ijaz to his family who took it to Luddan in Vehari district for burial.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Lodhran Liquat Ali Gilani told Dawn that on the recommendations of DPO Ali Bin Tariq, the district administration has withdrawn the permission granted to the Urs of Pir Jeewan Sultan and cancelled the approval of the festival with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026