SAHIWAL: Regional Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) special judge on Monday granted seven-day physical remand of the eight men accused of assaulting, harassing and illegally detaining three officials of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on March 31, when they visited an unregistered milk collection centre at 67/D village of Pakpattan tehsil to collect samples for testing.
The judge directed Chak Badian police to produce the suspects again on April 13 for the next hearing.
According to police reports, a total of 13 suspects were booked, three of them identified, for their alleged involvement in the attack on the PFA team, comprising a female officer, Aroj Fatima, and two male officials, Arsalan and Junaid.
As per the prosecution, the team members were allegedly assaulted, publicly humiliated, and held hostage for about 30 minutes by the milk centre owner and his accomplices.
DC suspends three lumberdars for failing to report illegal milk centre
Chak Badian police had registered FIR No 379/26 against Fakhar Chadoo (owner of the milk centre), Sajad, Gulam Nabi, and ten unidentified suspects under sections 186, 342, 354, 506, 379, 148, 149, 382, 397 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), sections 31, 32, and 22-A of the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011, and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1996.
The complaint was lodged by Naeem Ahmed, Food Safety Officer, PFA, Pakpattan.
Investigation Officer Javed confirmed that eight of the suspects have been arrested so far, including Fakhar Chadoo, Gulam Nabi, Jamil, Ali Sher, Ayub, Irfan, Imran Machee, and Muhammad Ahmed.
Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Javed Chadhar told Dawn that some of the unidentified suspects were traced through the video clips of the incident which circulated on social media. The PFA team, during the raid on the unregistered milk collection centre had seized 1,000 liters of adulterated milk deemed unfit for human consumption.
Meanwhile, Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza on Monday suspended three lumberdars of Chak 67/D from service for failing to inform the administration and line departments about an illegal milk collection centre operating in the village, where a Punjab Food Authority (PFA) team was attacked on March 31.
The centre had allegedly been producing and selling unhygienic, adulterated and fake milk for several years.
Those suspended include Muhammad Bashir, Khuda Yar, and Gulam Mustafa.
In his order, the DC stated that the three lumberdars have been suspended under Section 18(2)(f) of The West Pakistan Land Revenue Rules, 1968.
Speaking to Dawn, Mr Raza emphasized that under the rules, lumberdars have a “legal obligation” to report illegal activities, if any, in their respective villages.
He said that the suspended lumberdars had failed to fulfill their legal obligation and duty.
The lumberdari system dates back to colonial era, when they served as representatives of the British administration and were responsible for reporting all activities in rural Punjab.
The DC’s notification reads, “It was your duty to inform the District Administration and line departments about the presence of a milk collection point where unhygienic, dangerous, and fake milk was being prepared, distributed and soled. Your failure to report this matter confirms your involvement in the fake milk business.”
The DC further stated that the suspended lumberdars have been directed to submit their replies within two days.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2026