Four of family shot dead PESHAWAR, April 19: A youth allegedly killed his parents, brother and sister over a domestic dispute at Rampura Gate in main Peshawar city on Tuesday evening, police said.

An official of the Hashtnagri police station said Akhtar Zameer had developed differences with his family members over a piece of land and on Tuesday he opened fire on them after an altercation with them.

As result his father Sarwar Khan, mother Danish Bebi, sister Sheri Bebi, and brother Akhtar Nazeer were killed. They were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital but three of the injured died on the way while his mother succumbed to wounds in the hospital.

Local people said they heard gunshots but did not know what happened, adding, when the people started crying the residents rushed to the house and informed the police. The police registered case against the accused who escaped the scene. — Bureau Report ‘LI commander held’ LANDI KOTAL, April 19: Security forces on Tuesday arrested an important commander of banned Lashkar-i-Islam.

Officials said that Khandan, son of Awra Khan, was arrested from a house in Sultan Khel area after a brief shootout with inmates of the house.

The shootout also left an inmate of the house injured who was later shifted to local hospital. Sources said that Khandan, also the treasurer of the LI, had only recently migrated from Chora to Sukltan Khel after the Zakhakhel tribe’s rebellion against LI chief Mangal Bagh.

Meanwhile, reports reaching from the Bazaar-Zakhakhel area spoke of an escalation in armed clashes between LI and Zakhakhel lashkar.

Sources said at least four militants from both sides had been killed during the last two days of fighting.

It was also learnt that the LI had recaptured two of its bunkers they lost to Zakhakhel lashkar a few days back.—Correspondent Contraband seized KOHAT, April 19: Police on Tuesday seized huge quantity of hashish and heroin which was being smuggled from Khyber Agency to Punjab.

The staff of the Riaz Khan Shaheed police station stopped a suspicious car and on search found six kilograms of fine quality hashish from its secret cavities. Mohammad Haneef of Khyber Agency was arrested.

The police foiled another attempt of smuggling one kilogram of heroin from Koki Khel, Khyber Agency through a passenger coach to Punjab and arrested the carrier Da Khan.

Both the accused admitted having made several trips to Punjab and other parts of the country from Khyber Agency. They were booked under drugs act. — Correspondent

Shandur pass opened CHITRAL, April 19: The Shandur Pass was on Tuesday opened for light vehicular traffic after remaining closed for four months due to snowfall.

The sources in the communication and works department told this correspondent that the road was opened after clearance of snow from the pass situated at an elevation of 10,230 feet.

The road connects Chitral with the Ghizar district of Gilgit-Baltistan in the north and like Lowari Top it remains closed for five months of the year.

Apart from promoting tourism in the area, the road via Shandur provides access to local traders to the China market through Khunjrab Pass. — Correspondent Cellular phone service LAKKI MARWAT, April 19: Marwat Mobile Phone Dealers Association, Lakki Marwat chapter, at a meeting on Tuesday demanded immediate restoration of cellular phone service, which remains suspended for a year now.

Liaqat Ali Khan Sayyam chaired the meeting which was attended among others by mobile phone dealers and mobile franchise managers.

The participants hailed the statement of provincial Minister for Information and Public Affairs Mian Iftikhar Hussain promising to restore the service in couple of days.

“The minister’s statement indicates that the government has realised the negative impact the blocking of cellular phone service has put on the businesses of mobile phone dealers and franchises,” they said.

They said a delegation would soon hold meetings with all shopkeepers union president, district coordination officer and district police officer to bring into their notice miseries of mobile phone dealers. — Correspondent Gas facility LAKKI MARWAT, April 19: The ANP-led government has failed to provide basic amenities of life to the people during the last three years.

This was alleged by a local leader of JUI-F Maulana Ahmad Shah Qurashi while presiding over a party meeting here on Tuesday. He said the backwards districts like Lakki Marwat had been kept deprived of their due share in uplift funds. He said the government could not complete work on gas project in Lakki city which was launched in previous MMA rule.

“Several localities in Lakki town are still without gas facility,” he maintained, alleging, those who got the gas facility had political affiliation with ruling parties. He also blasted the government for carrying out prolong loadshedding in the urban locality. — Correspondent Heritage caravan PESHAWAR, April 19: The provincial archaeology and museums department in collaboration with the Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will organise a day-long ‘Heritage Caravan’ for those interested in visiting archaeological sites in Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi.

Dr Abdus Samad, consultant archaeology and museums, said the archaeological heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was one of the richest in whole South Asia. This rich archaeological heritage should be publicised and properly promoted through “Archaeological Tourism,” he said.

The “Heritage Caravan” will start from the Peshawar Museum on Saturday morning (April 23).

The government in collaboration with Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already initiated “Heritage Awareness Programme” at Peshawar and intends to extend the initiative to other districts besides organising free guided tours under the title of “Heritage Caravan”.—Bureau Report Journalist’s father dies PARACHINAR, April 19: Mohammad Afzal, father of daily Dawn correspondent, died on Tuesday due to cardiac arrest. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard.

His funeral prayer was held at central Imambargah, Parachinar attended by a large number people including journalists, tribal elders and relatives. He was later buried at College Colony graveyard. — Correspondent