GUJRANWALA, Feb 23: A task force of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) raided a tiles manufacturing factory and caught its owner stealing gas through a magnet placed at the meter here on Wednesday.

Reports said SNGPL authorities received information that former GCCI president Akhlaq Ahmad Butt had been involved in stealing gas at his tiles manufacturing factory on GT Road for several years.

At this, a task force led by general manger Najeeb raided the factory and caught owners red-handed while stealing gas. The raiding team severed the gas supply connection of the factory and an adjacent factory also owned by Akhlaq Ahmad Butt.

The general manager said that a strict action would be taken against factory owners in accordance with the law.

Accused Akhlaq Ahmad Butt is a member of the board of directors of Gepco and also a member board of governors of Government College for Boys, Satellite Town. He is also a leader of the Unity Group of the GCCI.

ROAD BLOCKED: Motorcycle-rickshaw owners on Wednesday blocked the GT Road for about one hour by parking their vehicles in protest against traffic wardens for imposing fines.

They also marched from Sheranwala Bagh to Gondlanwala Chowk. Motorists had to face a great deal of inconvenience.

City traffic officer Makhdoom Qaiser Bashir said the Lahore High Court had imposed a ban on motorcycle-rickshaws on GT Road in 2006-07.

He said he would implement the court order as motorcycle-rickshaws were creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic on the GT Road.

SHOT DEAD: Two persons were shot dead while another was injured by their relatives over some family dispute in Bakhatewala on Tuesday night.

Reports said Yasin contracted marriage with the sister of Saeed of Dhulley a few days ago, but a dispute developed between their family members.

On Tuesday, members of both families were present at the house of Saeed for compromise when his father Rafiq suddenly died of heart attack. Falling into a rage, Saeed whipped out his pistol and fired at his brother-in- law Muhammad Yasin’s family members. Consequently, Haji Adeel and Zahid died on the spot while Chand suffered injuries. He was admitted to DHQ Hospital in a critical condition.

The police have registered a case against the accused and are investigating.

RALLY: Workers of the Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union on Wednesday staged a rally in protest against the privatisation of power distribution companies and dissolving Pepco.

The protesters gathered outside Bakhtiar Labour Hall and marched up to the Gepco office. Carrying banners and placards, they chanted slogans against the government.

ARRESTED: The police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested an accused involved in looting an expatriate woman and seized looted goods from his possession.

CPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar told reporters that Sarwat Shafiq had come from the US for the marriage of her sister at Khokherki in Satellite Town area. As she was about to enter the house two armed robbers intercepted her, snatched US dollars, jewellery, cell phones and other valuables worth Rs7 million from her and escaped.

On a tip-off that one of robbers Fiaz Ahmed was present in Sialkot, a police party raided his hideout and arrested him. The police also recovered 70 tolas of gold, 12,000 dollars, four US passports, three cell phones and Rs40,000 in cash from his possession. The accused told police that main accused Naveed was the brother-in-law of Sarwat Shafiq.

Police were conducting raids for his arrest.

GET DEATH: The Anti-Terrorism Court No 1 awarded death sentence to two accused on 12 counts each with a fine of Rs1.2 million here on Wednesday.

They will have to undergo one-year imprisonment if they fail to make the payment of fine.

According to the prosecution, convicts Muhammad Boota and Liaquat Ali had killed Muhammad Younas, Ghulam Haider, Ejaz, Sufyan, Muhammad Asif and Master Zubair in Wahando on March 18, 2008, over a property dispute.