GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claims to have arrested 12 suspects, including an official of the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) and 11 human traffickers, wanted in different cases.

A spokesman for Gujranwala FIA said a sub divisional officer (SDO) of Gepco namely Jamal Nasir from Head Marala subdivision of Sialkot was arrested in a case of corruption lodged against him.

The suspect, he said, had provided an illegal power connection to a housing society in Sialkot as a result of which an 11kv cable was passing over the roof of a citizen whose son had lost both his arms after being affected by the Gepco cable.

On the other hand, at least 11 human traffickers, including four proclaimed offenders were also arrested from the region – five each from Gujrat and Sialkot and one from Gujranwala circles.

The traffickers were involved in the financial scam of at least Rs37 million with their clients on the pretext of sending them abroad but did not fulfil their commitments.

The spokesman said a human trafficker namely Shahzada Qutab Ali had been arrested for defrauding a citizen of Rs14.5m to send him to Spain but neither sent his client nor returned his amount.

DISMISSED: The Gujranwala district administration has dismissed four officials of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (Pera) and repatriated eight others to the police department over allegations of corruption.

According to a notification issued by the ADC’s office, four Pera sergeants — Fakhar Ali of Wazirabad and Zeeshan, Azeem and Zainul Abedin of Gujranwala Saddar — were dismissed from service over allegations of accepting bribes.

Meanwhile, eight Pera sergeants have been repatriated to the police department.

The officials were accused of misuse of authority and absence from duty.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026