SAHIWAL: Chak Badian police have registered a case against three people for allegedly killing a man to settle a 19-year-old murder rivalry near Mauza Fazalgarh, Tehsil Pakpattan.

The case was filed against Nasir, Wajid, and Ali Mumtaz under sections 302, 365, and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of deceased`s wife Ghani Begum.

Reports said the victim, Ajmal, was convicted in 2005 for the murder of Ahmed Ali, the brother of one of the suspects, Nasir.

Police record shows Ajmalwas sentenced to life imprisonment but was released in 2019 after the Supreme Court accepted his appeal for clemency. Due to the ongoing rivalry, Ajmal relocated his family from the village to Depalpur City.

Pakpattan DPO Javed Iqbal said police are interrogating two individuals in connection with the murder. Reports indicate that Ajmal, a resident of Mauza Fazalgarh, had been regularly visiting his agricultural land in the village since his release from prison.

On Monday, while returning from his land on a motorcycle, Ajmal was intercepted on a deserted road near Janjua Wali Abadi by three armed men in acar. The suspects shot Ajmal multiple times in the shoulder, stomach, neck, and chest, inflicting five to six gunshot wounds.

The attackers then placed the critically injured Ajmal in their car and drove toward Haveli Lakha. Villagers, who heard the gunshot s, grew suspicious and followed the vehicle.

Near Amin Kot, the suspects abandoned the car after firing shots into the air. Ajmal`s body was later found inside the vehicle. Rescue 1122 personnel confirmed his death at the scene.

Chak Badian police conducted a forensic analysis, and sent the body for autopsy at DHQ Hospital, Pakpattan. DSPInamul Haq confirmed toDawnthat Ajmal had been visiting his village for the past five years without any reported threats. He described the incident as a targeted killing to settle an old murder rivalry.

CRACKDOWN:Within the first 17 days of Ramazan, 28 price magistrates conducted 117,611 inspections, imposed fines totaling Rs1.23 million on 777 individuals, and arrested 431 shop owners in connection with 17 profiteering cases across two tehsils of Sahiwal district.

Deputy Commissioner Shahid Mahmood confirmed that cases were registered under the jurisdiction of various police stations. The crack-down reportedly helped stabilise sugar prices, bringing them down to Rs130 per kilogram.

However, numerous consumer complaints were raised, alleging that the prices of chicken, mutton, and beef remained unregulated and were being sold at higher rates.

While fruit and vegetable prices were controlled, there were notable price variations in meat.

The official prices for chicken, mutton, and beef are Rs768, Rs1,500, and Rs850 per kilogram, respectively.

However, these items are being sold at inflated rates of Rs900, Rs2,200, and Rs1,200 in various locations.