MANDI BAHAUDDIN, Feb 1: District Nazim Nazir Muhammad Gondal has held PML-Q District President Riaz Asghar and Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation.

He said both persons had appointed an incompetent district police officer, who had no experience of fighting crime. Speaking at a press conference at his office on Tuesday, the Nazim demanded that such an incompetent person should be immediately suspended from service, as he had failed to check high incidence of crime.

The Nazim said the dacoity in a market the other day spoke volumes for the negligence of the police. Meanwhile, traders observed strike in protest against the incident in which four armed men took away six kilograms of gold ornaments and Rs400,000 in cash.

Office-bearers of the District Sarafa and Jewellers Association set up a protest camp, and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Robbers, in the meantime, continued to make their presence felt as four armed men intercepted close relatives of Younis - the owner of the gold shop targeted by the dacoits on Monday evening, near a petrol pump on the Gujranwala Road. They snatched Rs20,000 in cash from their possession and fled.

DBA: The government has granted Rs500,000 for the District Bar Association, bar president Advocate Safdar Hayat Bosaal said here on Tuesday. Talking to newsmen at his office on Tuesday, the bar president said his priority would be to develop better bar and bench ties and work for the early provision of justice to the litigants.