GUJRANWALA: The Independence Day was celebrated with great zeal and fervor in the city. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held at many places in the city. Special prayers and Quran khawani were also offered in the mosques for the progress and prosperity of the country. In connection with the Independence main flag hoisting ceremony was also held at commissioner office Gujranwala which was attended by Commissioner Muhammad Asif, RPO Muhammad Tahir, DC Amir Jaan, CPO Ashfaq Khan, MNAs, MPAs and administrative officers. Gujranwala chamber of commerce and industry also arranged a ceremony in this regard in which president Saeed Taj, senior vice president Sheikh Abdul Rauf and other office bearers attended. A conference was arranged by Idaratul Mustafa in which prominent atomic scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was the chief guest. A cake cutting ceremony was held at central jail Gujranala in which MPA Toufeeq Butt was the chief guest. Jail prisoners also participated in all events held in respect of Independence Day and enthusiasm and passion shown by the prisoners was simply matchless. They showed their commitment to become good citizens and would never do anything that may harm Pakistan and to earn good name for Pakistan. Superintendent Jail Muhammad Asghar thanks the guests and honoured the winning teams with trophies and shields and medals. PPP: The Pakistan People’s Party arranged a ceremony at the office of Sagheer Butt, PPP information secretary, in which hundreds of PPP workers and office-bearers participated. Butt in his address, highlighted the different aspects of the freedom struggle and paid homage to the Quaid-e-Azam and all his associates for their selfless services to the nation. He called for collective efforts to save and serve the country, achieved after great sacrifices. He vowed that PPP under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will win the next general election and make the country more powerful and strengthen according to the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. Wheelie: On the directions of top police officers, check posts were established where police held 100 motorcyclists for wheelies and violation of other traffic rules on 14 August. Dozens of police check posts were established on various roads and seized motorcycles have been shifted to various police stations. On the other hand citizens criticized the police action and alleged that besides violators police also held various innocent citizens in this campaign and duty officials in the police stations were being received bribe from the citizens to release their vehicles. Later Judicial Magistrate Ehsanullah granted bail to the arrested youths on submission of surety bonds worth Rs 30,000 each. Published in Daily Times, August 15th 2017.