Police killing of Kasur boy: LHC orders recording of witness statements

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered for recording confessional statements of prosecution witnesses in alleged Mudassar fake encounter case in Kasur. Justice Muhammad Anwaar ul Haq passed the orders while allowing a petition filed by the Punjab Prosecution Department challenging decision of a judicial magistrate in the matter.  The court was requested to set aside order of the judicial magistrate and issue directions for recording statements of the witnesses. The court was further apprised that the apex court had  also given directions to decide the petition for recording statement of witnesses while hearing a suo motu notice over alleged extrajudicial killing of Mudassar in Kasur. –APP

Official nabbed over embezzlement

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested a customs officer allegedly involved in tax evasion in a betel leaf scam in the city. A spokesman for the bureau said the accused had been appointed as deputy superintendent customs during 2011-12 and he misused his authority to evade custom duty. Sohail has been nominated as key accused in almost 40 corruption references filed before accountability court in the same case in which more than Rs1 billion were embezzled. NAB officials have obtained physical remand of the accused till March 31 for further investigations.–Staff Reporter 

FIA detains deportees

FIA immigration authorities arrested nine passengers deported from different countries on Friday.  An FIA official said that out of these nine passengers seven were deported from Greece while two others were deported from Germany and Australia. All reached Lahore through Gulf Airline flight number 764. During preliminary inquiry, the deportees told the immigration officers that they had crossed into Greece illegally and there they were arrested there. The passengers were sent to Greek jail first and then after completion of their imprisonment, they were deported. Immigration authorities have sent all deportees to Anti Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) for further action.–Staff Reporter 

 Javid new PRO to governor

Deputy Director, DGPR, Javid Younas has assumed charge as new PRO to the Punjab Governor.  Javid has a vast and diverse experience of public relations to his credit. He has performed duties with provincial ministers, CMIT, provincial ombudsman, district and divisional administration and Punjab police. He has also worked on important assignments in the DGPR office.  Javid Younas has replaced Mr Mashhood Shorish who retired from government service on March 22, 2018.–Staff Reporter 

Governor hosts reception for journalists

Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafique Rajwana on Friday said that justice should be seen to have been done and the judgments should themselves speak. The Governor said the prosperity and development of the country was connected with positive thoughts, complete focus and principled politics. However, Rajwana pointed out that besides criticsing the government’s policies, the focus should also be on reforms.  He expressed these views during a reception ceremony held in honour of a newly-elected body of Punjab Union of Journalists (Dastoor). In reception, senior journalist Saeed Aasi, Khwaja Farrukh Saeed,  PUJ Dastoor President Rehman Bhutta, General Secretary Ihsanullah Bhatti, Imdad Qureshi, Tariq Jamal, Talib Hussain Bhatti, Vice President Imtiaz Ahmad, Shehzada Khalid, Nabeel Khokhar, Asim Amin, Ausaf Editor Sadaqat Abbasi and others were present. Rajwana urged journalists to play part in creating awareness among the public about the actual facts. He said Media’s role was important. –Staff Reporter