SAHIWAL: Farid Town police have booked three contractors, registered with the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), for alleged negligence, violation of protocols and endangering public safety during the execution of drainage line laying projects in Sahiwal city.
The police registered FIR No 918/26 under sections 283, 290, 188, 337(H)2, and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against the contractors on the complaint of Wasa Deputy Director Kazim Raza.
The contractors booked by the police include Muhammad Afzal, MRC Company, and joint venture partner M/s Imran Associates.
According to sources, the contractors are engaged in sewerage and drainage improvement works worth Rs1 billion in Farid Town, Stop No 3, Stop No 8, Rahmatullah Street, Pasha Street, Karbala Road, Furniture Bazaar, and Tariq Bin Ziyad Colony.
The action against them was taken in following public complaints alleging that no diversions were provided for commuters on the project sites, while deep trenches dug up for laying drainage and sewerage lines were left open.
The recent monsoon rains further aggravated the situation, exposing the poor quality of work on the project. Dozens of videos uploaded on local social media platforms highlighting the flaws in the execution of the schemes.
The affected-residents also tagged these videos to the social media accounts of commissioner and deputy commissioner.
Some photographs shared on social media showed the Wasa heavy machinery struck into the trenches the agency had filled just a week back.
The ongoing heavy rainfall has turned the trenches into ponds, posing serious risks to public safety.
Wasa Managing Director (MD) Tanveer Qasir told Dawn on Monday that the contractors were repeatedly directed—both on telephone and through written notices—to implement safety measures on the project sites and comply with the protocols for such works.
“Despite repeated instructions, the contractors neither resolved the issues, nor coordinated with the office. Their conduct reflects negligence, irresponsibility, and failure to meet the contractual as well as public safety obligations,” the MD added.
Residents of the ares concerned also confirmed that the contractors failed to adopt precautionary measures at the project sites, exposing people to the risk of life-threatening accidents.
No arrest has so far been been made in the case.
SUSPECT ARRESTED: Yousafwal police claimed to have arrested an injured suspected dacoit, while his accomplice managed to escape during an “encounter” near 66/5-L village on Sunday night.
According to the police, ASI Rai Irfan was on patrol duty, along with a team, when they signaled two suspicious motorcycles, approaching from Bagri Pull, to stop.
Instead of following the police’s direction, the suspects opened fire.
The police returned the fire, and a crossfire ensued that lasted for nearly 15 minutes.
Following the crossfire, the police claimed to have found one of the suspects laying injured on the spot. He was later identified as Nadeem Ghangri Baloch, a resident of 53/5-L village of Sahiwal tehsil. Other suspects fled the scene.
A Rescue 1122 team, called by the police, shifted the injured man to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
A case has been registered under sections 324, 186, 427, 34 of the PPC and Section 13A(2) of the Arms Ordinance on the complaint of ASI Rai Irfan.
Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2026