Couple held for abducting over 50 underage girls

MULTAN: Police have arrested a couple for allegedly abducting over 50 underage girls from across the province and selling them in tribal areas of the country.

Police sources told here on Sunday that accused Abdul Razzaq and his spouse Kausar were arrested in the case as they were members of a gang involved in the heinous crime. During investigation, the couple confessed to killing three people, including two underage girls, the sources informed. The police also recovered corpse of a nine-year-old girl who was killed recently. Seetal Mari police had apprehended the couple during interrogation of a two-and-a-half-year-old baby Bushra who was abducted, the sources stated. The couple was arrested on the identification of brother-in-law of ringleader of the gang, the sources said and added that police held him from Mianchannu. The couple disclosed that they used to sell these girls in tribal areas after kidnapping them from Punjab. The police constituted a special team for further investigation of the case, the sources added. A spokesperson for the police confirmed the story and refused to share more details. Several attempts were made to contact CPO Zubair Dareshak but he was not available to comment on the story.

telemedicine calls: The Telemedicine Centre established at the Nishtar Hospital received over 2,700 calls, including 372 for COVID-19 pandemic, within 11 days after its establishment.

Nishtar Medical College (NMC) Principal Dr Iftikhar Khan told on Sunday the centre received good response from public in wake of coronavirus situation wherein they were requested not to visit the health facility for consultation of ailments. The services available round the clock in three shifts of doctors extends medical consultation for medicines, surgery, ENT, paeds, Gynecology, skin, dental and eyes besides viral issues, he informed and added that exactly 2,745 calls were received from March 24 to April 3

Sharing details, Dr Kham stated that specialist doctors were also available to serves the masses at the centre in additional to young medics. The team working for this purpose is enthusiastic and dedicated, he remarked. From any corner the country, people can call at six Landlines which include 061-4540210, 0614540211, 061-4540212, 061-4540213, 061-4540214 and 061-4540215, the NMC principal added.

Cotton cultivation campaign : Punjab Agriculture Secretary Wasif Khurshid said that all stakeholders were taken onboard to achieve cotton cultivation target in the province.

In a statement issued here, Wasif Khurshid stated that the wheat cutting and cotton sowing season had begun. All stakeholders and farmers were instructed to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to work amid coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic caused huge loss to world economy. The agriculture sector would be promoted, he stated. He informed that cotton seeds for two lakh acres were being given on subsidize rates. One bag per acre was offered against Rs 1,000, he maintained. The Agriculture Department teams were also working in fields to check locusts, he added. Similarly, an abundant supply of eatables is also being monitored in vegetable and fruit markets, he told.