GUJRANWALA: Social, religious, business and political circles have expressed concern over the rise in robbery and theft incidents in the district.
The citizens said that crime incidents have been increased after the posting of present CPO because there is no check and balance on the performance of SHOs and other police officers. It is a general belief that police can curb crime if it wanted. However, despite tall claims and unprecedented security measures, police have failed to control crime in Gujranwala city. Checkpoints and barricades set up at almost all major roads and sectors to curb terror acts have failed to check the movement and activities of criminals however. These arrangements only have provided some security cover to the sensitive buildings, installations and VIPs but not the common citizen. Available figures proved that the checkpoints are not helping the police in the recovery of arms, narcotics and tampered vehicles. Although police figures showed a slight decrease of crime incidents but everyone knew that these figures are not correct, daily crime reports which published in newspapers are also against the police figures. In recent days about 20 to 30 dacoity and theft incidents were being occurred on daily basis. Citizens said that travelling on motorcycle was unsafe across the district. They termed the situation critical and suggested a revamp of the police system. People are of the view that the police have failed to control law and order despite receiving enhanced annual budgets, supplementary grants, and special funds. They urged the senior police officials to improve the patrol system and evolve a strategy to control crime rate in Gujranwala.
Raids: FIA teams arrested six human traffickers from Gujranwala, Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin districts. The accused Muhammad Aslam S/O Nazar Muhammad was arrested from Phalia, Asmat Ullah S/O Muhammad Anwar and Javed Iqbal S/O Rehat Khan from Gujrat, Bilawal Jamil and Malak Faraz from Gujranwala and Shamsher Khan was arrested from Mandi Bahauddin. The raiding party has recovered two Pakistani passports and visa stickers from the accused Muhammad Aslam.
Electrocuted: Five buffalos electrocuted by touching with a electrified pole here at Lambanwali while owner and residents of the area staged a demonstration protest against GEPCO. The protesters alleged that they have informed the GEPCO officers about the faulty pole but no action was taken.
Beaten: A security guard of DHQ Hospital thrashed a rickshaw driver. Security Guard Tahir and rickshaw driver Nadeem exchanged harsh words for entering Trauma Center and the guard tortured the driver Nadeem who received injuries.
Killed: A man was killed by his brother-in-law in Emanabad. Accused Aqeel was a drug addict and he demanded money from his brother-in-law Naveed. When he refused Aqeel attacked Naveed with a knife.
Published in Daily Times, July 27th 2017.
