SIALKOT, Aug 17 Sixty patients suffering from gastroenteritis were admitted to hospitals here on Monday, according to Health Department officials.

Thirty-one people were admitted to DHQ Hospital and 29 to Sardar Begum Hospital. Officials said the number of patients could escalate owing to muggy weather.

BALOCH Jamaat-i-Islami Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch has urged the government to initiate trial of Gen Pervez Musharraf (retired) according to the aspirations of the people.

Mr Baloch told reporters that parliament should play its role to put Gen Musharraf on trial. He criticised the federal government for allowing the US to establish residences for US marines in Islamabad. He called the plan a US conspiracy against Pakistan.

He said his party would not let the government establish the colony in Islamabad. He said sugar mill owners-cum-parliamentarians were responsible for creating a sugar crisis in the country.

succumbs to injuries The doctor who was shot at and injured a week ago by a proclaimed offender for not giving him 'protection money' succumbed to his injuries at the Mayo Hospital, Lahore, on Monday.

Dr Shabbir was reportedly attacked at Motra village of Daska tehsil after he refused to pay money to PO Ehsan Khan. He was shifted to the hospital due to his critical condition.

Motra police had arrested accused Ehsan, but he escaped from the lock-up with the alleged connivance of some police officials a few days ago.

Meanwhile, the heirs to the deceased doctor staged a peaceful demonstration by placing his body in front of the DPO House. They chanted slogans against police and demanded immediate arrest of the accused PO and the officials who allegedly helped the PO in his escape.

However, the protesters ended the protest after DPO Waqar Ahmad Chohan assured them of early arrest of the accused and stern legal action against the accused police officials.

POOR PERFORMANCE Deputy Inspector General (Traffic) Dr Tariq Khokhar has ordered 11 traffic police officials to report to headquarters, sought explanation from a DSP, besides suspending from service a muharrar and naib-muharrar for showing poor performance.

The action was taken following public complaints regarding traffic mismanagement in the city.