Woman shot dead

MANSEHRA, March 29: A woman was killed when two rival tribes clashed over possession of a water reservoir in Torghar district on Tuesday.

The incident happened in the Kunday Mena area where the wife of Abdul Hazar was killed during heavy exchange of fire between the Kunday and Mena tribes, the sub-tribes of Bassikahil.

Meanwhile, over 100 candidates have applied for 60 vacant posts of constables in the police department.

The recruiting committee headed by DPO Sohail Khalid supervised the physical and written tests of the candidates on Tuesday.

The candidates who cleared the entry and physical tests would appear before the committee for interviews soon. — Correspondent

Hazara Tehrik

ABBOTTABAD, March 29: Tehrik-i-Shuhada Hazara media coordinator Naseer Khan Jadoon has asked the Tehrik-i-Soba Hazara to convene a meeting of its supreme council to elect a new chief as the incumbent Baba Haider Zaman has failed to lead the movement.

Speaking at a press conference at press club here on Tuesday, he alleged due to wrong policies of Mr Zaman, the movement had been hijacked by some elements to promote their self-interest.

Mr Jadoon said the movement for a separate Hazara province had split into two groups, which he alleged were planning to sabotage the sacrifices of the martyrs of April 12, 2010.

Meanwhile, DCO Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam has issued notification to all private schools and colleges to provide fee concession to sisters or brothers studying in the same school as per the Peshawar High Court order. — Correspondent

Shortage of teachers

KARAK, March 29: The shortage of teachers particularly of science subjects in the state-run schools has badly affected the studies of students in the district.

Sources in the education department said on Tuesday 55 posts of Senior English Teachers, including 31 female and 24 male, have been lying vacant for the last many years, forcing the students to get admission in private schools.

The sources said two posts of principals, one male and one female, and 10 posts of vice principals were vacant. Two posts of headmasters and 12 posts of headmistresses were also lying vacant. At least 12 posts of Certificate Teachers (CT) and 11 posts of Arabic Teachers were also vacant.

Similarly, 18 posts of Theology Teachers, including 10 males and 8 females, were vacant. Moreover, eight posts of Qaris were also vacant.—Correspondent

Woman’s nose chopped

MANSEHRA, March 29: A man chopped off the nose of his wife allegedly over her bad character and surrendered to police in Shinkiary on Tuesday.

Gul Mohammad, father of four children, cut off the nose of his wife (N) with a sharp knife and surrendered to the police.

Lodging FIR with the police Gul Mohammad said when he came back from duty late night he found the door of his house opened. And when he inquired his wife confessed that she was with a stranger.

At which he got infuriated and chopped off her nose. Shinkiary police arrested Gul Mohammad. The woman was taken to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital.—Correspondent

Reforms in Fata

PESHAWAR, March 29: Jamaat-i-Islami deputy chief Sirajul Haq has said political and social reforms in Fata are inevitable and urged federal government to take practical steps in this regard.

Talking to members of the All Parties Fata Reforms Committee here on Tuesday, he said the federal government should extend Political Parties Act to the tribal area without delay and announce comprehensive financial package for the region.

He said the government should also abolish FCR which he said was hurdle in social and economic progress of the tribal people.

Mr Haq said Fata people had been kept backward as the area had no university, medical college or vocational centre.

He said the government had been receiving huge financial assistance from donor countries in the name of development in Fata but funds were being spent somewhere else.—Bureau Report

Tribesmen stage protest

PARACHINAR, March 29: Tribesmen staged a rally in Parachinar on Tuesday to protest against the killing of their fellows and kidnapping of 35 people last week.

Hundreds of people chanting slogans against the government and local administration marched on the roads and demanded immediate release of the kidnapped persons.

Alama Syed Abid Hussain and other elders led the rally. Bazaars and markers remained closed and protesters assembled at the town’s Hayat Shaheed Park.

Addressing marchers Alama Abid said it was prime duty of the Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies to provide security to the people on Thall-Parachinar road.

He said people of Kurram were deceived in the name of peace deal and government did not fulfill its responsibility. He said local administration had given free hand to the miscreants that was why local people had been under attack since signing of the agreement in February last.—Correspondent

Spray pumps

LAKKI MARWAT, March 29: The farmers of Frontier Region of Lakki were given spray pumps on Tuesday to help them eradicate crops related diseases and get increased yield.

Assistant political agent Mohammad Fayyaz Khan Sherpao gave away 135 spray pumps to the growers in a function held in Shadikhel locality. Elders and officials of the agriculture department were also present.

The APA said the government was taking keen interest in boosting agriculture sector in the tribal areas by equipping farmers with modern farming technologies.

He said political administration would arrange training sessions for the farmers to enhance their knowledge about controlling crops related diseases and getting enhanced production.—Correspondent

Rs2m for cricket team

PESHAWAR, March 29: Former MNA from Fata and businessman Mohammad Shah Afridi has announced Rs2 million for Pakistan cricket team if they win the World Cup seminal against India at Mohali.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday he said the Pakistani nation had attached great expectations to their team and expressed the hope that the team would emerge victorious.

The former lawmaker said the nation had offered prayers for success of the cricket team.—Bureau Report