Blast victim dies

PESHAWAR, May 22: Death toll from the recent gas explosion in Malik Saad Khan Police Lines rose to four as another injured person succumbed at a burn hospital in Kharian Punjab on Sunday. Pervez Khan, a painter, was under treatment in the hospital for last few days.

Nine officials of the technical staff of Peshawar police had sustained severe burn injures in the gas explosion occurred in the office of Reserve Inspector Usman Ghani.

The other three victims were Naseem, Gulshera Khan and Raz Mohammad. —Bureau Report

House looted

MANSEHRA, May 22: Armed dacoits deprived a family of gold ornaments and cash on Saturday night.

Six armed men barged into the house of Jawad Sultan in the city area and after tying the family members in a rope decamped with 50 gram gold ornaments, Rs120,000 and two pistols. The people in the city and adjoining areas are concerned over rise in dacoities, streets crimes and robberies, and demanded of the IGP to take notice of the situation. —Correspondent

Houses swept away

MINGORA, May 22: The raging waters of River Swat washed away nine houses and a hujra in the Kalam valley of Swat district on Sunday, forcing the population along its banks to shift to safe places.

Residents said the Swat River was in high flood and the water level was rising. Low-lying areas along its banks are likely to be flooded as the embankments and protective spurs had been swept away by the devastating floods last year.

They said the rising waters washed away the houses of Malik Maanavi, his brother and seven sons. A hujra of the family was also washed away.

The residents said the temporary wooden bridges on the river had also been swept away, causing numerous difficulties for the people. —Correspondent

18 held for swimming

HARIPUR, May 22: The Khanpur police arrested 18 persons for allegedly violating ban on swimming in Khanpur dam on Sunday. DCO Haripur Syed Mohsan Shah had banned swimming and bathing in the lake for 60 days on May 16, following incidents of drowning during summer.

However, a number of youngsters, mostly belonging to Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Taxila, Wah Cantonment and surrounding areas, thronged the lake and started bathing in the main dam area, spillway and plunge pool.

The police during a raid arrested 18 of them while scores of others made their escape good.

Meanwhile, a young man was shot dead allegedly by his close friend over unknown reasons in Kotnajibullah on Sunday. The victim was identified as Nasir Siddique, 24. —Correspondent

Protest against police

SWABI, May 22: People of Managi village on Sunday staged a protest against the Punjab police for allegedly killing the son of a police inspector a few days back.

The Chota Lahor police have arrested an inspector and two head constables of Punjab police in the killing of Safdar Khan, son of Inspector Dawood Khan and are expected to present them in the court of judicial magistrate on Monday.

The protesters marched from Managi village to Shewa adda, covering a distance of about six miles on foot. They held banners inscribed with slogans against the Punjab police. —Correspondent

Book launched

CHITRAL, May 22: A book containing collection of poems written by a young female poet, Basharat Jabeen, was launched here on Sunday.

Speakers on the occasion eulogised the book titled ‘aseer Mustafa bun kar’, for its ability to stir the thoughts and imaginations of the people by inculcating in them the true love for the last messenger of Allah whose dignified life was a symbol of peace and amity.

The speakers said the world can be turned into a peaceful place if the teachings preached throughout the life of the last prophet were acted upon in letter and spirit. They said the poet tried her utmost to successfully portray the life of the prophet in the context of present scenario. —Correspondent

PPP-S leader resigns

MARDAN, May 22: Former provincial minister and leader of PPP-S Syed Kamal Shah advocate on Sunday resigned from the party owing to differences with party leadership.

Talking to Dawn, Syed Kamal Shah said he had conveyed his concern to the party leadership about some party affairs and its ‘wrong stance’ regarding Pakhtun rights but no attention was given to him, which led to differences between him and his leadership.

He, however, said few meetings were held by an inter-party jirga in this regard but no serious approach was made to remove the differences and redress his concerns. —Correspondent

Hydro union

KARAK, May 22: The hydro union of Wapda has threatened to suspend power supply to the entire Karak district if the miscreants nominated in an FIR for beating Pesco employees, were not arrested by Monday.

This was decided at a meeting held on Sunday. The meeting decided that the Pesco employees would start token strike from Monday if the miscreants were not arrested.

Meanwhile, paramedical association, Karak chapter, has demanded new service structure, which ensures their promotion and raise in salary.

Meanwhile, a seminary student, Tanveer, 17, of Bami Banda, committed suicide on Sunday due to some domestic issue. —Correspondent

Work starts on road

MANSEHRA, May 22: The National Highway Authority has started work on a portion of Mansehra-Naran road, which was swept away by the swollen Kunhar River.

Because of the continuous erosion of the road for last many days it was feared that the road link between Mansehra and Balakot (Kaghan valley) would be suspended as the road near Hassah had been swept away by the river.

The NHA started rebuilding the road at Hassah and other places after the people of Balakot threatened to launch protests. —Correspondent

16 suspects held

CHARSADDA, May 22: The security forces arrested 16 suspects during a search operation in the Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda on Sunday.

Sources said the security forces and police conducted a joint search operation in Saro Kalli, Agra Koroona and Machini areas of Shabqadar and arrested 16 suspects. The detained men were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. —Correspondent