FAISALABAD, April 5: Khurrianwala police arrested a powerloom factory owner who had contested the bypolls for union council Nazim in Ghulam Muhammadabad here on Sunday night.

A police team raided the house of Muhammad Iqbal and arrested him for patronizing the gangsters involved in dacoities and robberies in godowns and factories. Accused Iqbal had contested the bypolls as a joint PPP and PML-N candidate, but he was defeated by the PML-Q candidate.

When contacted, the police claimed that Iqbal was arrested after receiving vital information about his involvement in criminal activities. However, family sources of Iqbal claimed that his arrest was made to teach him a lesson for contesting elections against the relative of an influential person of the city.

NINE STRIKES: Armed bandits made off with thousands of rupees in cash, ornaments, a car and a motorcycle in nine different strikes in the city and its rural areas during the last 24 hours.

A gang of armed robbers injured a boy, Shabbir, and looted thousands of rupees in cash and ornaments near Chak 121-JB. Two masked bandits snatched ornaments and other valuables from two women when they were on their way after buying some articles from a market near Peoples Colony.

Four unidentified bandits barged into the house of trader Khurram in Madina Town and looted cash and valuables at gunpoint. A gang of armed bandits looted cash and ornaments from the house of widow Shamshad Bibi in Ghulam Muhammadabad.

Five outlaws looted Rs10,000 in cash and electric appliances from the house of Ghulam Farid in Rehmat Town. Unknown thieves took away Rs20,000 in cash, gold ornaments and some valuables from the house of Naeem Tahir in Mohalla Chibban near the General Bus Stand.

Armed robbers snatched Rs35,000 in cash and costly articles and took away a motorcycle (FDQ-8689) from the distribution office of a multinational company in Jaranwala.

Masked bandits looted Rs30,000 in cash, ornaments worth Rs20,000 and other valuables from the house of farmer Sabir Ali in Chak 61-JB in the area of Thikriwala police station. Thieves took away a car (IDD-6229) of villager Muhammad Arif in Chak 263-RB.

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