MULTAN: The Multan Division Commissioner Nadeem Irshad Keyani on Sunday ordered to seal Samurana cattle market after a fight erupted between two groups of cattle traders over a tract of land in which two people were killed and six sustained critical wounds on Saturday night.
The biggest cattle market of South Punjab is located at Nag Shah Chowk in Multan. Reportedly, the members of the two groups opened fire on each other after a brawl erupted between them.
They were rushed to the Nishtar Hospital Multan for medical attention.
Consequently, 30-year-old Abdul Jabbar Dogar, a close relative of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA-elect Malik Amir Dogar, and 35-year-old Azhar succumbed to their injuries, whereas, 46-year-old Muhammad Arshad, 28-year-old Anwar-ul-Haq, 30-year-old Ahtasham, 28-year-old Asif, 25-year-old Asad Umar and 17-year-old Naveed sustained critical injuries. Other members of the groups broke windows and furniture of the hospital, and then beat the injured patients lying in the hospital beds. Later, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) operations Tauseef Haider rushed to the spot, and deployed a heavy contingent of police personnel at the hospital to prevent the situation deteriorating further.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mudassar Riaz also reached the hospital and inquired about the injured patients. The DC was also briefed about the fight in the emergency ward between the two groups. He stated that nobody would be allowed to disrupt law and order situation, and informed that the two groups had a dispute over a 12 marla plot as each group claims its ownership over the land. The union council chairman Adnan Dogar, brother of Amir Dogar, demanded a stern action against the suspects. Later, the police claimed to have arrested three members of the groups while raids were being conducted on their suspected hideouts, and started further investigation into the matter.
He directed police officers to put the security on high alert, and ordered concerned officials to immediately install CCTV cameras at all cattle markets in the city. He also issued directives to the investigating team for submitting a detailed inquiry report on the priority basis.
Published in Daily Times, August 13th 2018.