August 13, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 3, 1423

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FAISALABAD, Aug 12: The federal interior ministry has directed the Punjab police to launch an operation against illegal foreign settlers and outfits of banned jihadi organizations.

A senior police officer, seeking anonymity, told this scribe on Monday that intelligence agencies in their reports submitted to the federal government had claimed that banned jihadi organizations were directly or indirectly involved in the recent terrorist attacks in Murree and Taxila.

Following these reports, the ministry has directed all the provincial police chiefs to arrest foreign settlers and active members of banned groups, he added.

According to him, police have also been directed to round up all those who had recently returned from Afghanistan. The special and security branches of the Punjab police have also been directed to observe extraordinary care while issuing stay permits to foreigners, including checking of their record, living standard of their hosts and purpose of stay in Pakistan. They have also been directed to monitor activities of Afghanistan nationals residing in various parts of the city.

Sources in the local administration said the government was also considering to clamp Section 144 CrPC. Special attention would be paid to the security of churches, schools, hospitals and residential areas of minorities.

INDEPENDENCE DAY: A competition for decorating government and private buildings, streets, bazaars and markets will be held throughout the district on Aug 14 and the first three position holders would be given awards by the district government.

It was decided in a meeting here on Monday presided over by district Nazim Zahid Nazir which was also attended by the DCO, EDOs, TMOs and tehsil Nazimeen.

A four-member committee comprising EDOs of revenue, community development, works and services department and resident director of the Arts Council was formed for the purpose.

FAIR FOR WOMEN: The social welfare department will arrange a fair for women and children to mark the Independence Day in the Gulistan-i-Fatima on Aug 14 at 4pm.

Meanwhile, the eight-day independence celebrations under the Faisalabad Arts Council are in full swing here.

These celebrations, arranged in the parking area of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium, are scheduled to continue till Aug 16.

ROBBERIES: Bandits shot dead a taxi drive and made off with Rs2 million in cash and valuables, a car, a two-wheeler in five strikes during the last 24 hours.

A gang of highwaymen shot dead a taxi-driver, Zafar Turabi, and took away his vehicle (FDZ-5252) in Miani village in the Dijkot police station area.

Unidentified bandits looted cash and gold ornaments worth Rs1.7 million from the house of a trader, Liaquat Ali, in Mansoorabad.

Two masked motorcyclists snatched Rs20,000 in cash from local trader Khurram Rasheed on Jail Road and fled.

A gang of bandits forced their entry into a factory in Chak 202-RB of Nishatabad and fled after looting Rs31,000.

Shopkeeper Sharif was deprived of his two-wheeler (FDW-5179) in Kutchery Bazaar by unknown vehicle-lifters.

AXED TO DEATH: A boy was axed to death by a group of villagers over a minor dispute in Chak 221-RB on Monday.

Aftab Ahmed had a dispute with Shahbaz Ahmed over playing of a tap-recorder in full volume. Shahbaz and three accomplices attacked Aftab Ahmed with axes. Aftab sustained serious injuries and died on the spot.

RUN OVER: An old man was crushed under the wheels of a bus on the Faisalabad-Jhang Road on Monday.

Muhammad Bashir, 46, was hit by a speeding bus when he tried to cross Jhang Road. He sustained serious injuries and died on way to hospital.