SAHIWAL: The Crime Control Department (CCD) claimed on Tuesday that the alleged ringleader of an inter-provincial car lifting gang was killed in an encounter near village 17/14-L in the jurisdiction of Kosowal police station.

According to the CCD, Ghulam Murtaza (35), a resident of Lahore, was associated with the Odha gang and was killed by the gunfire of his own accomplices during an encounter.

His accomplices managed to escape under the cover of darkness, the CCD claimed.

The CCD said the deceased had a long criminal record with over 125 cases of vehicle theft registered against him across various police stations in Lahore, Kasur, Multan and Sahiwal. He was also a court absconder in multiple cases and was wanted by police in Sahiwal, Kasur and Lahore.

CCD SP Sajid Khokhar told Dawn that Murtaza had been imprisoned 12 times and also served a two-year sentence at Karachi’s Central Prison.

Mr Khokhar said it was believed that he had stolen more than 45 cars from various locations. He was also an A category absconder in Chichawatni police record, he added.

ARRESTED: The Noor Shah police arrested a youth over charges of blasphemy, hate speech and inciting sectarianism on social media in village 74/4-R.

On the complaint of Sahiwal Police Lines Sub-Inspector Muhammad Tahir, police booked the suspect under PPC 295-A (deliberate and malicious insult of a religious group), PPC 298 (use of derogatory remarks against the family, wives, and companions of the Holy Prophet), and section 11 of The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

The suspect had reportedly posted a video clip containing alleged hate material and sectarian content on his social media account.

SI Tahir said the police became aware of the video through their own “sources” and recovered the video on the suspect’s mobile phone.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2025