'Poisonous sweets' claim lives of three children

In Qila Sahib Singh area of Hafizabad, three children lost their lives and five others were left in critical condition after allegedly consuming poisonous sweets distributed by an unidentified individual.

The family sources said the children aged between six and 13 years were playing outside their homes when an unidentified man, reportedly a rickshaw driver, handed them sweets.

Soon after consumption, the children began to show severe symptoms of poisoning. They were rushed to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Hafizabad, where three of the children succumbed despite medical efforts.

The remaining five children, all of whom are close relatives of the deceased, were provided emergency treatment before being referred in critical condition to Children's Hospital Lahore for specialized care.

The deceased children include Danish, whose father, Shahbaz, lodged a formal complaint with the police.

Acting promptly on the complaint, the Hafizabad City Police registered a case against an unknown rickshaw driver and initiated a thorough investigation into the incident.

Following the tragedy, the bodies of the three children were handed over to their grieving families after medico-legal formalities, including post-mortem examinations.

Meanwhile, doctors collected biological samples from the affected children, which have been dispatched to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Lahore to determine the exact nature of the toxic substance involved. Upon receiving reports of the incident, Deputy Commissioner Hafizabad Abdul Razzaq, District Police Officer Atif Nazir, CEO Health Dr Zaheer Ahmad, and local political figure Ch.

Muzaffar Hussain Tarar, along with other officers from the district administration and police, rushed to DHQ Hospital. They personally monitored the medical treatment of the affected children and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razzaq expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of innocent lives.

"This is an unspeakable tragedy. The district administration will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served. Specialist doctors were immediately mobilized, and the best possible medical care is being provided to the survivors," he stated.