October 24, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 11, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: A Lahore-bound bus was hijacked by a gang of five highwaymen who robbed the passengers of Rs670,000 and 15 cellphones here on Tuesday.

Sadaqat Ali, a businessman from Azad Kashmir, told the capital police that he along with 23 other passengers was on board. When the bus reached Barakahu, three of the passengers got up from the back seats, pulled out pistols and forced the driver to take the bus out of the highway.

“The gunmen held the bus driver hostage and threatened to kill him if he did not turn the bus towards the jungle,” he said, adding that the gunmen also directed the passengers to hand them over their cash and cellphones. He said: “The terror-stricken driver turned the bus towards the green area where three other gunmen joined them. They looted the passengers and disappeared in the dark.”

Meanwhile, robbers stormed into a house near Quaid-i-Azam colony and held its inmates at gunpoint. They took away cash and valuables.

RAWALPINDI: Five people were deprived of their vehicles, cash and electronic goods in different strikes in Rawalpindi.

Malik Abid, had gone to visit his relatives after locking his house at Gangmandi. On his return he found the locks of his house broken and cash, prize bonds, a television set and video set stolen.