BAHAWALPUR: A m assive fire erupte d in the Miranpur jungle near Lodhran on Friday.

According to Forest Department officials, the fire burned trees and bushes overseveralacres.

According to Rescue 1122, four fire tenders with 15 firefighters battled the flames for hours and eventually brought the fire under control.

The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but officials claimed that the unusually high temperatures and high-tension wires passing over the vast forest area may have caused it. The cooling process was being monitored by the rescuers.

FIA: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested an alleged human smuggler, Rashid alias Gaja, for extorting money under the guise of sending people abroad as wrestlers/athletes.

According to FIA sources, Rashid was arrested following a complaint by Asif Hussain, from whom he had received Rs. 2.2 million tosend him to Italy as a wrestler. However, the suspect sent him to Romania.

Based on Asif`s complaint, the FIA registered a case under sections of the Immigration Act and the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018, and also launched an investigation involving the Pakistan Wrestling Federation, which clarified that Rashid was not its representative.

The FIA arrested him at his house in village 12/BC, Bahawalpur. The FIA alleged that there are several other complaints against him.

lWEPCO: Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) had digital meter readers Rana Zafar and Akhtar Bhutta arrested for electricity pilferage in Multan`s Musa Pak subdivision on Sunday.

According to a press release, Zafar and Bhutta were apprehended during a surprise raid by the executive engineer and sub-divisional officer. It was revealed that both officials created faults in consumers` electric meters after accepting bribes and helped them steal electricity.