BAHAWALPUR: The Bahawalpur deputy commissioner has issued a 14-day detention order for ten supporters of the NA-168 by-poll defeated candidate, Wali Dad Cheema, who were already arrested for their alleged involvement in a clash occurring over a fortnight ago during the election campaign.

The arrested activists belong to the group led by MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema, the father of Wali Dad, who contested the by-poll as an independent candidate against the PML-N nominee Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, who emerged as the winner. Cheema’s supporters have been lodged in the Central Jail, Bahawalpur.

According to official sources, the deputy commissioner issued the detention order under Section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Public Order(MPO) Ordinance, 1960.

A clash had occurred on Sept 11 during the election campaign between the supporters of Mr Cheema and Mr Channar, and both sides had lodged FIRs against each other. However, the police had arrested 10 supporters of Mr Cheema.

The deputy commissioner has cited the maintenance of law and order as the reason for their detention.

Those detained also include some PPP activists, who had joined Cheema’s camp against the party’s decision to support Channar.

SEARCH OPERATION: Rescue 1122 teams are looking for an elderly man, who had allegedly jumped into the Yazman Canal, along with his wife, for an unknown reason.

The woman managed to swim back to the canal bank, while her elderly husband disappeared in the water, the rescuers said, quoting locals.

As per Rescue 1122, Yousaf Ali (75), along with his wife Saeeda, had gone to the Yazman Canal on Tuesday in a rickshaw. The couple allegedly jumped into the canal, apparently to end their lives.

Yousaf’s son told the rescuers that his father was mentally challenged.

On being called by locals, Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot and launched a search operation to trace the elderly man, who is feared drowned.

The search operation was underway till the filing of this report.

Police say they are investigating why the couple jumped into the canal.

ARTS COUNCIL BUILDING: The construction of the state-of-the-art building of the Punjab Arts Council (PAC), Bahawalpur, will be completed soon at a costof over Rs470 million near Seraiki Chowk.

This was stated by Bahawalpur Arts Council Director Dr Nasir Hamid during a briefing to Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia, who inspected the under-construction building here on Tuesday.

According to the director,work on the tiled flooring, false ceiling, and sanitary fittings has been completed in the basement of the three-storey building, while on the first and second floors, work isin full swing.

The commissioner directed the building department officials to complete the work at the earliest so that cultural and entertainment activities could be started in the building.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2026