BAHAWALPUR: Special judge Chaudhry Ziaullah handed down seven-year imprisonment along with fine to former Saddar assistant commissioner Rai Abdul Hafeez and his bill clerk Abdul Majid for fraudulently drawing Rs2.6 million through two cheques from the Kissan package during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif`s tenure.

According to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) sources, the corruption case had been registered against former AC and his bill clerk on the complaint of the then Saddar AC, Hasnain Khalid Sanpall.

In the complaint, AC Sanpall had complained withdrawal of Rs2.6 million through fake bills with the help of two cheques but when clerk Abdul Majid attempted to encash third cheque amounting to Rs1,720,000, he (Majid) was trapped and the AC got registered an FIR against both.

The special judge handed down seven years` imprisonment along with fine of Rs50,000 each or further prison term in case of def ault.

Sources said both the accused managed to flee court and the special judge ordered their arrest.

OVERHEAD BRIDGE: The National Highways Authority (NHA)has released Rs70 million for the repair and renovation of the Zakheera overhead bridge on Karachi-Lahore highways, according to a staffer of Governor Baleeghur Rehman.

The NHA took action on the initiative of the governor, who hails from Bahawalpur, who took notice of the closure of the overhead bridge for years. The work will be completed in four months. The overhead bridge which has been in a state of disrepair for long period posed a threat to the lives of the drivers of both heavy and light traffic.