SNGPL team, police thrashed by ‘gas thieves’

In an open example of lawlessness, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Inspection Team, including the magistrate and policemen, were severely beaten by ‘gas thieves’ on Wednesday in Sadhoki area.
According to reports, an inspection team consisting of Magistrate Abdul Sattar Khan, Operation Engineer Sanaullah Tarar and policemen, including one ASI and two constables along with the SNGPL staff, raided Latif Woolen Mills on reports of massive gas theft. When the team inspected the factory, owner Farhan Sheikh threatened them of serious consequences and asked the team to leave. On refusal, the owner ordered factory workers to beat the team on which around 250 workers armed with iron rods and sticks attacked the team. The SNGPL staff was kept hostage for around two-and-a-half hours. Police and journalists reached the spot and after one hour negotiations between Chief Engineer Hanif Ramay and the factory owner, the SNGPL team was released.
Talking to Pakistan Today, negotiation team member Asim Mir said that Farhan lied to workers that the SNGPL team was against their livelihood on which they attacked the team. He said that the owner incited the workers to attack the team after gas theft was exposed. Asim said that team members were seriously injured. Talking to Pakistan Today, Sadhoki Police Station SHO Iqbal Aughla said that a case was registered against the owner under FIR number S/12 and Farhan was under detention under sections 506,342 and 148 of the PPC.