GUJRANWALA, Aug 14: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced restoring the old system of releasing the people deported by Turkey, Iran and other countries.

FIA (passport cell) additional director Hussain Asghar said the step was taken in view of the marked increase in the number of deportees.

He pointed out that the non-implementation of hard laws caused a surge as the number of deportees during the current year touched the figure of 1,900 which was 1,080 in 2007.

Mr Asghar said that the deportees were being released after imposing a fine of Rs4,000 only by local courts in the present system. He said the deportees would be booked on various offences under the old system while their cases would be tried in a special court in Lahore.

Meanwhile, he said an FIA team arrested two notorious proclaimed offenders after a brief encounter here.

He said accused Mahmood Butt was arrested from Khiali while accused Arshadullah from the old railway station. These accused were wanted to the agency in many cases of human smuggling for the last two years, he said.

INSECURITY: Police officials are worried about their security after the target killing of their colleagues by unidentified culprits.

Three constables Amir Mushtaq, Muhammad Akhtar and Tanzeel Ahmad were shot dead by unidentified car riders in Sadar area on Aug 8 when they signalled them to stop for checking.

While sub-inspector Liaquat Ali was gunned down by unidentified motorcyclists on Aug 11 when he was returning home after midnight from Alam Chowk bypass police post.

Feeling insecurity, the police officials are reluctant to perform patrol duties, particularly at night hours.

DIG Zulfiqar Ali Cheema said the police found the clue of culprits involved in the killing of policemen and that they would be arrested soon.

RALLY: Inqllabi Council Workers staged a really in connection with Independence Day here on Thursday.

Led by Afzal Inqllabi and Dr Umer Nasir, the rally started from Sheranwala Bagh and terminated at Gondlanwala Chowk after parading GT Road.

The Jamaat-i-Islami also took out a rally with its workers marching on GT Road.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...