SADIQABAD, Dec 22: A forest team has recovered timber worth hundreds of thousands of rupees near Zahir Pir Chowk. Reports said a gang of timber mafia had been involved in theft of trees along roads and canals near Bungalow Sheikhan since long in connivance with Rahim Yar Khan DPO Tariq Joya and forest guards.
People of the area time and again lodged complaints against the forest department officials and the timber theft gang, but the authorities concerned remained unmoved.
A large number of shisham trees were being cut in the area of Bungalow Sheikhan last week when a resident, Rais Bashir Ahmad, inquired from the persons who claimed that they had purchased the trees.
Later, Multan region forest officer Mian Muhammad Aslam was contacted, who said the auction of trees was banned. Rais Bashir Ahmad filed a complaint to chief conservator Dr Zafar Iqbal who deputed Bahawalpur conservator Tariq Mehmood to conduct an inquiry and inspection.
A team conducted a raid and took into custody wood valuing hundreds of thousands of rupees. The alleged thieves showed a visiting card of the Rahim Yar Khan DPO and told the forest officials that they were complying his orders.
One of the accused, Ayyaz Ahmad, pointed out another lot of trees hidden near Jagga hotel on the GT Road. The team reportedly visited the site and inquired about the owner of the wood from the watchman who revealed the name of Muhammad Bux, a resident of Bahawalpur.
The inquiry team incharge handed over both the consignments to local residents Mian Mehboob Ahmad Sheikh and Malik Muhammad Akbar in the presence of general public to keep a vigil on the state property and submitted a report to the higher authorities.
PROTEST: The Seraiki National Party has threatened to start violent protests and blockade of the GT Road against closure of the Panjnad Canal. SNP Patron Sardar Hussain Bakhsh Khan and President Saifur Rahman Ghaleeja at a press conference here on Wednesday in Zahir Pir said the Southern Punjab had been deprived of irrigation water for the last three months which would have an adverse impact on wheat.
They termed the slogans of 'grow more wheat' a farce. The SNP leaders warned that if Panjnad and the feeder canals were not supplied water within a week, large-scale demonstrations would be arranged along with the blockade of the national highway. Mr Ajmal Khan, Mujeeb Rahman Khan Lolai and other office-bearers of the party were also present on the occasion.