Protection walls

TIMERGARA, April 11: The provincial director of irrigation department’s flood directorate Mohammad Naeem Khan has said the government is spending Rs800 million on construction of protection walls on both sides of the rivers Panjkora and Swat.

He was briefing journalists after his visit to the sites the other day. He said work on the project had been started in Lower Dir and Swat and asked the concerned contractors to expedite the pace of work so that fruit orchards, farms and cultivable lands could be protected from floods in future. Some of the projects, he said would be completed till June this year. He said there would be no compromise on quality of work.—Correspondent

Lowari Tunnel

CHITRAL, April 11: Former MNA from Chitral Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali has said that the statement of the federal minister of communication regarding the status of work on Lowari Tunnel project is totally baseless and misleading.

In a statement issued here on Monday, he said the work was virtually stopped on the site and the Sambu construction company, a Korean firm, had already mobilised its machinery to the Golen Gole Project from Lowari.

He said the federal minister should at first rebut the proceedings of the standing committee of the Senate chaired by Senator Zahid Khan in which he had criticised the federal government for shifting the funds of three mega projects of NHA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Multan. Mr Chitrali claimed the work on the tunnel had long been abandoned.—Correspondent

Lawyers convention

MINGORA, April 11: A lawyers convention would be held at the newly-constructed Darul Qaza building in Swat on April 14 against delay in the appointment of judges to the court.

This was stated by Swat bar association president Asghar Ali Khan advocate while speaking at a press conference at Swat press club on Monday. He was also flanked by other office-bearers of the association including vice-president Farman Ali advocate, general secretary Sher Ali Khan advocate and others.

He said Supreme Court Bar Association President Asma Jahangir, Vice-President Lateef Afridi and other lawyer leaders will address the convention.

He said due to delay in the appointment of judges to Darul Qaza thousands of cases were pending in courts in Malakand division.—Correspondent

Stolen items recovered

CHITRAL, April 11: Chitral police have recovered valuable items stolen from the Chitral Fort and handed them over to the members of the royal family.

SHO of Chitral police station Zaffar Ahmed told Dawn the accused Mohammad Yasin of Chitral had stolen different valuable items including two guns from the fort and sold these to different people in the local market.

He said the accused threw the two guns belonging to the 19th century AD into the river after failing to sell them to anyone.

He said the accused confessed to his crime before a local court and was sent to jail.

He said the people who purchased the stolen items at throwaway prices were also nabbed. —Correspondent

Hoti lauds police role

PESHAWAR, April 11: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has appreciated the prompt police action to thwart an attack launched by extremists near Karkhano Market Hayatabad. He paid rich tributes to the police official who got killed in the encounter.

The CM in a statement on Monday said the way the police repulsed the attack reflected commitment of the force against terrorists.

He expressed solidarity with the family of the martyred police personnel and prayed for peace in heaven for the departed soul. — Bureau Report

Sporting events

PESHAWAR, April 11: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is capable of holding any international sporting event in the province after successfully organising inter-provincial and national games and inter-district badminton championship during the past couple of months.

“We have demonstrated our strength in holding sports events despite scourge of terrorism in the province. It is a clear indication that the province is capable to hold any international sporting event,” said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the Minister for Information and Culture.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the inter-district badminton championship at the Qayum Sports Complex on Monday, he said games provided peace of mind as well as entertainment to the people.

He added all efforts were underway to encourage games. He told youngsters to participate in sports activities and avoid indulging in bad habits.

Later, Mian Iftikhar gave away trophies to the winners and runners-up teams.—Bureau Report