GUJRAT: A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI-SIC) MNA from Mandi Bahauddin, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed, who was in the custody of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), was allegedly kidnapped by armed men on Shadiwal Road, near Gujranwala, on Tuesday night.

The opposition lawmaker was in the custody of the ACE on physical remand in connection with a graft case, facing changes of receiving Rs2 million commission in a development scheme.

Gujranwala Headquarters Circle Officer (CO) Aftab Haider told Gujrat police that an ACE team had taken Mr Imtiaz to Mandi Bahauddin for the recovery of the “commission amount” he had allegedly received, adding that a sum of Rs300,000 had already been recovered from the suspect.

However, the CO said, as the ACE team was bringing the lawmaker back to Gujranwala on Tuesday night, around a dozen armed men in three vehicles intercepted the official vehicle on new Shadiwal Road, and opened indiscriminate fire.

The CO said that to save themselves from the bullets, the ACE officials left the vehicle to find shelter. Meanwhile, he said, the armed men took away the MNA, who was still in the official vehicle, with them.

Gujrat Saddar police have registered a kidnapping case against the unidentified suspects under sections 353, 324, 427, 186, 224, 225, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), on the report of ACE CO and started investigation.

Mr Imtiaz had been elected as an independent candidate (backed by the PTI) in February 8 polls. Earlier, he had been elected as an MNA, for the first time, in 2018 elections on the PTI ticket.

Raped: Two minor girls were allegedly raped in as many incidents in Kunjah and Shaheen Chowk police precincts in the district on Wednesday.

According to police sources, a 13-year-old girl was raped by a man of Adowal village in Shaheen Chowk police precincts.

The girl was medically examined by the doctors at the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH), who confirmed the rape.

The police have registered a case against the suspect on the complaint of the girl’s father and started investigation.

In another incident, a 4-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Kunjah area.

Police say that the family of the victim lodged a complaint with Kunjah police against the suspect.

A spokesman for Gujrat police claims that both suspects have been arrested.

He says that the incidents of child sexual abuse are being dealt with strictly as per the chief minister’s orders.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2024