VEHARI, Jan 13: An under-trial accused escaped from the judicial lockup here on Saturday night.

Sher Muhammad of Chak 119/15-L, Khanewal, was arrested a few days ago. On Thursday, police brought him here from the Multan District Jail to produce him before a local judge.

Following his escape, SP Dr Jamil Ahmed suspended head constable Mohammad Rafiq and constables Khizar Hayat, Basheer Ahmad, Muhammad Arshad and Mubashar Imtiaz and arrested them.

Last year, six criminals had escaped from the same lockup after shooting a guard.

Mailsi: Mailsi is the most backward and neglected sub-division in the Vehari district.

Ambiguities in the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001, have not only created confusion among people but also for state functionaries who are not fully aware of their duties.

Most of its union councils have not started functioning in the wake of absence of the required staff, shortage of furniture, paucity of funds and accommodation problems.

A majority of buildings in use of UCs are rented and dilapidated throughout the tehsil.

The sole judicial magistrate is insufficient to deal with the increasing number of fines of motorcycles and other vehicles. It is imperative to fill vacant posts to meet the demand.

Out of four tehsil officers, only two TOs (regulation and planning) are working while the posts of TOs (finance and infrastructure) are lying vacant.

The tehsil municipal secretariat set up at the municipal committee office is too small to accommodate functionaries of all tehsil offices. Only one room is available for TMO and TOs.

Talking to Dawn, Tehsil Nazim Asim Saeed Manais said the district government had neglected the Mailsi sub-division for reasons best known to it.

The new system, he feared, would yield no positive result in the prevailing situation.

He urged the district government to appoint the sanctioned staff and provide basic facilities in running the affairs smoothly.

When contacted, local government officials admitted that chaos and confusion rule every department.