SAHIWAL: Acting on a tip-off, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested an outlaw affiliated with a banned outfit from Jamia Anwar-i-Farid, Nath Pul, Pakpattan, on Sunday night.

Reports said Muhammad Mahfooz, a resident of Saboo Kay, Tibbi Lal Baig, Tehsil Arifwala, was distributing Al-Qaeda publications and banned material to shops and residents in the surrounding village. When approached, the suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended by the CTD team led by Muhammad Anees, Saadullah and Gulzar Mahmood.

During the raid, officials recovered handbills, pamphlets, banned books, and stickers like flags bearing images of Osama bin Laden. They also seized copies of the banned book titled “Shaheed Usama – Sahra say Sumandar Tak”, along with three SIM cards, a mobile phone, cash, and several parcels prepared for dispatch to different addresses.

Later, a case was registered under Sections 11-F(2), 11-G(2), 11-W(2), and 9 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, on the complaint of Muhammad Anees at CTD Sahiwal. The suspect was shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

ILLEGAL COLONIES: Officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC) have begun demolishing the infrastructure, including boundary walls and offices, of more than six illegal housing colonies.

Sources told Dawn that Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail had earlier declared 46 housing societies illegal and denied them objection certificates (NOCs) for failing to meet legal requirements under various provisions of the Punjab Private Housing Schemes and Land Sub-Division Rules, 2010, including Rules 4, 6(2), 6(4), 7(1), 7(3)(b), 7(3)(b)(i)(h), 10(a), and 42.

Dr. Tufail, who also serves as the MC administrator, said the cases of these societies had remained under process for nearly a decade. He added that the corporation officers had repeatedly directed the owners to comply with legal requirements, but instead of fulfilling them, the owners ignored official warnings.

The cases were later referred to the LG&CD special secretary, who began hearing appeals on April 13, 2026. It is learnt that the owners of all 46 housing societies submitted replies, reports, and records either personally or through their lawyers.

Sources seeking anonymity said the colonies secretary had not granted them any stay so MC had started demolishing the colonies. MC Chief Officer Shaik Ashfaq confirmed that colonies were not granted stay so “we started the demolition of unregistered schemes”.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026