December 29, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 30, 1429

SWABI, Dec 28: About five policemen were injured, one of them seriously, when Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) workers took control of a security checkpost after clashes with the personnel on Sunday.

According to JI leaders, their party workers were on way to Buner in vehicles from Swabi to help party workers in the ongoing by-election, NA-28. When the caravan reached near the post, the policemen reportedly stopped them from entering the constituency.

“We requested them (policemen) to allow the workers but none of them was ready to cooperate,” claimed a JI worker. The arguments on the occasion led to scuffles.

The injured was taken to a local hospital. After the clashes, the JI workers took control of the post and made their way into Buner. It was not clear immediately whether an FIR had been registered against the JI workers or not as the police were silent about the incident.

However, the JI leaders claimed that the caravans of the ruling Awami National Party (ANP) were allowed to entered the area but the JI workers were stopped at different points.

PEACE SOUGHT: Asad Qaisar, NWFP president of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) said that the Indian leaders had a big responsibility on their shoulders to avert war and resolve issues between the two-nuclear neighbours by diplomatic means while establishing mutually beneficial relations.During a meeting with party workers, he said that war was not solution of the crisis; wars invited destruction of societies and pushed them into the shadows of starvation and poverty. He said Pakistan’s peace overtures should not be translated as its weakness and there was dire need to give up negative approach and look to the delicate scenario from a positive angle.

TROOP MOVEMENT: The pulling out of some troops from the western border and their movement on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway was witnessed by some locals.

“I came across with convey of the army on the Motorway when I was on my way to home at night,” said Farooq Khan. “It seems that the situation is really turning worse.” Some people opined that a conspiracy had been hatched against Pakistan.