RAWALPINDI: Following the death of26 passengersin a coach accident in Kahuta over a week ago, the police have launched a crackdown on public service vehicles plying without fitness certificates and route permits.

During the last six days of the crackdown, 1,230 drivers were challaned, 113 vehicles impounded and seven cases registered.

Following special instructions from City Police Officer Khalid Hamdani, the divisional superintendents of police have been directed tohold meetings with managers of wagon stands (Addas) and ensure that all the vehicles possess route permits and fitness certificates.

The CPO directed that no vehicle should be allowed to ply without the route permit and fitness certificate. Legal action will be taken on any violation, CPO said.

Special instructions have been given to the city traffic police and a special squad has been formed for the operation, the CPO said.

Realtor found dead A realtor was found suffocated to death in his sleep inthe limits of Saddar Barooni police on Sunday.

According to a police report, Sameerullah, 25, a resident of Muzafarabad who had a property business at Adiala Road, was found dead in his room.

The deceased had turned on a generator in his room before going to bed. As his room was opened, it was filled with gas emitted from the generator.

The heirs of the victim did not want to conduct a postmortem and took the body to their native town.

Meanwhile, two robbers robbed Zermain Haider Shah in a street at Sadigabad of Rs3,000 and a mobile phone.

On offering resistance, the rob-bers shot and injured the victim and escaped.

The injured was shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital where he was stated to be out of danger.

A store owner and his staff were robbed of Rs1.5 million by three robbers in Pirwadhai area on Sunday. Shakeel Ahmad told the police that he was sitting at his store when the armed men pulled up and held the staff members hostage at gunpoint and snatched cash from them.

Moreover, a motorcycle rider was taken at gunpoint by two robbers on Murree Road and robbed of his motorcycle, two mobile phones and Rs17,000.