GUJRAT: An oil tanker and two fuel dispensers were burnt in a fire erupting at a petrol station during the refilling of an underground petrol tank at Lalamusa, along the GT Road.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, the fire erupted when the underground tanks at the filling station were being refilled by an oil tanker carrying 15,000 liters of petrol.

On seeing the fire that caught the rear portion of the tanker and two fuel dispensers, the petrol station staffers panicked and ran for their lives.

However, the driver showed presence of mind and drove the partially-burning oil tanker out of the petrol station premises, averting loss of human lives and sever damage to the property.

The rescuers and eyewitnesses say that the driver hurriedly drove the oil tanker, with burning rear portion, around 100 meters away from the petrol station premises and parked it there.

According to officials, six fire-engines of Rescue 1122 took part in the operation that took at least one hour to control the blaze engulfing both fuel dispensers and the oil tanker.

The timely action by the Rescue 1122 firefighter also helped secure the remaining six fuel dispensers and other installations at the station.

Rescue officials say the fire might have erupted because of lack of safety measures and non-observance of refilling protocols at the petrol station.

Pickpockets booked: The A Division Police have booked unidentified pickpockets for stealing around a dozen cellphones from a recently held gathering organised by the city chapter of the Jamaat-i-Islami.

JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had addressed the public gathering at the party’s membership camp in Gujrat’s GTS Chowk on May 6.

Complainant Gujrat JI Youth Secretary Usman Amjad in his FIR claimed that he was present at his party’s rally when unidentified thieves stole his cellphone.

Later on, he said, he came to know that the phones of his other party fellows were also stolen at the same gathering. Police registered a case against unidentified suspects on the complaint.

Meanwhile, the Kharian Saddar Police arrested an alleged pickpocket after he was nabbed by citizens while stealing phones at funeral prayers a couple of days ago.

A Gujrat Police spokesperson said that police were making all-out efforts to trace and arrest the suspect(s) involved in stealing phones from the political gathering in the city.

INAUGURATION: Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Karim visited the Gujranwala region where he inaugurated the new building of the Aimanabad Police station and the Police Facilitation Centre at the RPO Office.

Addressing a meeting, the IGP directed police officers to ensure courteous public dealing, merit-based operations, and strict implementation of a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. Officers from across the region and heads of all units attended the meeting.

The IGP visited the Gujranwala Safe City where he reviewed the working of the CM WiFi and the Virtual Women Police Station. He also visited the Gujranwala CCD Headquarters and the Dolphin Headquarters.

Later, while chairing a meeting at the Gujranwala RPO Office, RPO Khurram Shahzad Haider Warraich briefed the IGP on the law and order situation and the significant reduction in crime across the region.

The IGP said that, like Gujranwala region, a vigorous crackdown on drug dealers was continuing throughout Punjab, resulting in a noticeable decline in crime due to effective strategy and teamwork.

He said hat crime in the riverine areas had been brought under complete control and no-go areas had been eliminated.

He said schools, colleges, and police infrastructure in riverine areas had been significantly improved, while the traffic management system was also being upgraded on modern lines. Public awareness regarding traffic laws had increased, leading to a marked rise in helmet usage, he added.

During the visit, the IGP met and congratulated the daughter of ASI Saifullah on her success in the CSS examination.

Later, the IGP visited the residences of police officials Fiaz Shah and Umar in Gujrat who were martyred by the firing of criminals in the last couple of months.

Gujrat DPO Akhtar Farooq also accompanied the IGP during his visit.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2026