March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

TOBA TEK SINGH, March 7: More than 24 people were injured on Basant here on Thursday and Friday.

Kite-flyers played loud music on their rooftops and repeatedly resorted to aerial firing on Basant night (Thursday night).

As a result, patients and students preparing for their annual exams suffered a lot because of frequent tripping.

Later, the police raided several kite shops and made the owners shut their shops.

CONVENTION: A ‘Kissan convention’ here on Friday condemned the government for not protecting growers’ rights.

The convention, which was attended by farmers from across the district, was presided over by Kissan Board Pakistan local representative Mian Saeed Ahmad.

A resolution passed by the convention said sugar mills were fleecing the growers, adding that farmers would stop growing sugarcane if the prevailing situation was not checked.

Another resolution passed at the convention slammed the increase in bulldozer rent from Rs358 per hour to Rs1,000 per hour. The convention also condemned the government for not fixing fertilizer prices.

LAWYERS’ STRIKE: Lawyers observed one-hour strike on Friday on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council and demanded restoration of deposed judges.

On this occasion the bar, which met here with president Mian Muhammad Shoaib in the chair, passed a resolution in favour of immediate release of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Lawyers also observed one-hour strike in Kamalia and Gojra.

CONVICTED: District & Sessions Judge Jalaluddin Akbar on Friday gave life term to murderer Yasir Shah and also imposed on him Rs200,000 fine. Shah hired a taxi on Nov 3, 2006, shot driver Nadeem dead and fled with his cab.