MANDI BAHAUDDIN
Punjab Secretary Khalid Mahmood visited the city markets and checked rate lists, quality of commodities including vegetables ghee and oil brands of various companies.
During checking, the secretary weighed ghee and oil packets of various manufacturing companies, and found difference in weight printed on the packet and its weight. Every one-kg packet was found 100 to 210 gram lesser in quantity while the rate lists and standard of other commodities was satisfactory.
Talking to media persons, the secretary said filling lesser quantity of ghee and oil in packets is a big fraud warranting severe punitive action against the culprits. He said he would report the matter to Punjab Chief Minister for necessary action against ghee manufacturing companies. He said government reduced prices of ghee and oil with purpose of providing financial relief to people but the manufacturing companies were defeating it by malpractices. He said Punjab government was striving hard to facilitate the people and in this respect he ensured that no stone would be left unturned.
LAWYERS PROTEST: Malakwal Lawyers boycotted courts against the police allegedly for not conducting investigation on merit. At a press conference, Tehsil Bar Association President Tasawar Naveed Gondal said the accused in a case vide FIR 146/15 on 19 March confessed their guilt before the Malakwal DSP and a group of lawyers and promised to lead to recovery of Rs800,000 in a property case. The DSP then directed SHO Zafar Iqbal and Investigating Officer ASI Muhammad Afzal to recover the property from the accused and accordingly submit police report to courts for trial of the case.
Meanwhile, the police released the accused that got pre-arrest interim bail from Additional Sessions Judge Malakwal. On the hearing date, the IO submitted police report before the court according to which the accused were declared innocent with recommendation of their discharge from the case. The president alleged that police do not care for merit and spoil the cases after taking bribe from accused party.
He said the TBA in a resolution passed unanimously had decided that lawyers would continue strike if SHO and IO do not recover property within two days.