MUZAFFARGARH: City police on Saturday registered a case against a former Punjab Assembly member of the PML-N and his supporters for staging a rally against the unbridled inflation and blocking roads.

The case was registered under sections 341, 148, 149, and 16 MPO.

On Friday, Hammad Nawaz Tipu along with others took out a rally and protested against the increase in petroleum prices and blocked roads. Police registered a first information report against him and 30 unidentified and 13 nominated supporters.

The FIR said the former legislator and his men were armed with pistols and batons, and they blocked roads and chanted slogans against the government.

Talking to the media, Mr Tipu said he would face the case and approach the court.

ASSUMES CHARGE: Muzaffargarh District Council Chairman Sardar Umer Khan Gopang reached his office on Saturday and assumed charge while Vice Chairman Malik Abid Hussain Bhabha, UC Chairman Syed Jameel Shah Bukhari and staff welcomed him.

HOSTAGE: A sub-inspector and two police constables were held hostage by Korai group members during a clash with their rival Gurmanis over a land dispute on Saturday at Eesanwala near Qasba Gujrat, some 45 kilometres away from city area.

Reports said the Korai family, led by Wahid Bukhsh Korai, allegedly wanted to grab forest land near the Indus while the rival group - ex-MPA Mian Tariq Gurmani’s son Tipu Gurmani - along with his men and Eesanwala police in-charge Kazim Munir and two constables reached the spot. Tipu and his men opened fire. During a clash, two youngsters Shoaib and Shehzad suffered injuries. The injured were rushed to Nishtar hospital, Multan. The Gurmanis managed to escape while the Korai family held the police team hostage.

After receipt of information, Mahmoodkot Station House Officer Mohiuddin along with a team reached the spot and got the police officials released. Police have registered a case against Tipu Gurmani and his three men under 7-ATA. Another case was registered against the Korais for holding the police team hostage.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2021