09 May 2004	Sunday	18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

GILGIT, May 8: An explosive device was lobbed into a house in the Shooti village in the city suburbs early Friday, police said. The device was lobbed through the chimney of the house, they said.

Seven of the family members of one Mohammad Hussain, who were asleep at the time of the pre-dawn attack, escaped unhurt, police officials said.

FALCONS FREED: Eighty rare falcons were freed in the 16,000- foot-high Khunjerab National Park on Friday, officials of the World Wildlife Fund said.

These falcons were confiscated from smugglers in the UAE and other countries.

The UAE officials on Thursday returned the birds which were flown back to Gilgit aboard a UAE air force plane on Friday.

NGOs: Non-governmental organizations in Northern Areas have decided to activate all the bodies related to environmental protection and promotion through restructuring and adjustments.

A meeting, held under the aegis of IUCN, informed the participants that environmental issues would be tackled through collective efforts.

They said water contamination, deforestation, pollution and solid waste mismanagement were the emerging issues.