LAHORE
A robber was killed in an alleged police encounter in Nishter Colony on Tuesday.
The police said they had captured a suspected robber identified as Muhammad Rafiq wanted in a robbery-cum-murder case registered in 2014. They said they were taking him to a spot to recover looted valuables, but he snatched a riffle from a policeman and jumped out of the police van and fled. He snatched a bike from a passerby, the police said.
Meanwhile, the police party announced the news about his escape through wireless. Police of nearby areas launched a search operation and spotted him hiding in a Kahna area. When police went to arrest him, he opened fire at the party. The police retaliated and killed him.
MEETINGS: Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Afzaal Bhatti has directed the chairpersons of District Overseas Pakistanis Committees (DOPCs) to ensure fortnightly meetings and wide publicity of working of these committees. Presiding over a meeting of Chairpersons of Selected Districts, he said that it would help to keep the expatriates fully informed about the availability of official mechanism to address their problems. The commissioner OPC said there is a dire need for collective efforts to safeguard the rights of expats and role of DOPCs is of great importance in this regard. He said the Punjab government should be commended for its proactive approach towards welfare of Pakistanis living abroad as it believes that Overseas Pakistanis are integral part of our society and playing a key role in strengthening of national economy. They are the real face of Pakistan who have earned a niche with their hard work and dedication, added Commissioner OPC. Different complaints of overseas Pakistanis also came under discussion during the meeting and Commissioner OPC issued certain directions regarding solution of these complaints.
TRIBUTE: Upon the directions of Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), Dr Rizwan Naseer a rich tribute was paid to sacrifices of 13 heroes of the nation all over the Punjab on the eve of 8th anniversary of Shuda-e-Ghakkar Plaza. These unsung heroes lost their lives during Ghakkar Plaza Fire Fighting & Rescue operation on December 20, 2008. Out of 13 firefighters four were from Rescue 1122, one from Municipal Fire Brigade Rawalpindi, six from Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) Wah Cant and two were from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Islamabad. He paid homage to the martyrs and said this day would be remembered as 9/11 for firefighters in Pakistan. “We always remember the great sacrifices of our heroes of Pakistan and cannot give more precious lives just for lack of fire safety standards in high-rise buildings. It is time to bring change by implementation of Fire Safety Standards in buildings,” he said.
ACCIDENTS: At least 641 road crashes were reported in Provincial Monitoring Cell of the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) in all 36 districts of Punjab during the last 24 hours in which 11 lives were lost and 512 serious injured were shifted to different hospitals of relevant districts and tehsils. However, some 219 victims who sustained minor injuries were discharged on the spot after provision of first aid by Emergency Medical Teams.
AWARENESS: The accidents analysis of year 2016 revels that three accidents occurred in dozing at the wheel which caused five deaths and nine injuries out of 42 accidents on national highway in N-5 Central. The Central Zone imparted briefing to 16,783 public service vehicles, 20,186 heavy transport vehicles , 11,744 light transport vehicle regarding awareness campaign about dozing at the wheel. As many as 30 wakeup points were established in prominent places of N-5 central zone to control the accidents due to dozing at wheel. This is said by DIG Mirza Faran Baig while observing a special awareness campaign regarding dozing at wheel. On the directions of DIG Mirza Faran Baig, NH&MP N-5 Central Zone is observing two weeks ‘Dozing at Wheel’ Campaign in which officer will brief motorists especially drivers of HTVs and PSVs to take proper rest during long journey and in case they feel drowsy, they should stay somewhere and have a cup of tea. The officers have also been directed to ensure the use of hooter and horn whenever any HTV vehicle or passenger bus passes them especially in the late hours of night. The officers have been asked to visit different hotels and rest areas besides national highway to brief and educate the drivers staying there about the phenomenon of ‘dozing at wheel’.
