Two officers found murdered

MARDAN, June 4: A couple allegedly killed two government officials in Garyala area on the night between Friday and Saturday and threw their bodies near a nullah.

The locals of Garyala spotted two bodies lying at the bank of a nullah and informed the Shahbaz Garhi police about the bodies.

Later, the bodies were identified as assistant director agriculture, Syed Qamar and Prof Abdul Hasan. The victims belonged to Sanigam and Karpa localities of Buner district.

The police preliminary investigation revealed a couple of the Garyala town identified as Ihsan Shah and his wife Parveen was involved the double murder. However, the motive behind the murder was not ascertained yet.

It was reportedly said the victims had been kidnapped from Buner district and were missing for the last fifteen days. The police arrested Perveen.—Correspondent

Three killed in Kohat

KOHAT, June 4: Three people were killed and one injured in different firing incidents in Kohat district on Saturday.

In Kachai village, Syed Ishfaq and Syed Asghar, residents of Essa Khel, were shot dead by a group of six people following a brawl. The murderers fled the scene. In Garhi Behram area of Jungle Khel Amjid killed his brother-in-law and escaped.

In Kamal Khel, a pedestrian, Shahid Iqbal, was injured during crossfire between two armed groups in the jurisdiction of Bilitang police station. The concerned police stations registered cases and launched investigations.—Correspondent

Man shot dead

SWABI, June 4: Dispute over a piece of land claimed life of a man at Sheikh Jana village here on Saturday, said police.

Registering FIR at Kalu Khan police station, Niaz Ali, cousin of the deceased, Maqsood Ali, said his family had a dispute over a piece of land with the family of Mohammad Naras. He added Maqsood’s family wanted to occupy the land through force and had warned them of dire consequences if they created any hurdles. Niaz Ali said his family had taken the case to court, adding, Javid Khan and Mohammad Naras shot dead his cousin while irrigating fields. The killers escaped from the area.—Correspondent

Workers hold demo

MANSEHRA, June 4: The employees of the National Commission for Human Development on Saturday took out a protest rally in Battagram against the proposed scraping of the organisation.

Meanwhile, the participants were dispersed peacefully on the assurance of the MPA Taj Mohammad Tarind that he would take up the issue with the CM.

The participants of the rally holding banners and placards marched on various roads in the city.

Addressing the rally the speakers said the federal government had handed over the NCHD to provinces under the 18th amendment but the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Hoti had strictly refused to take the organisation due to financial problems.

They said if the NCHD was scraped over 800 male and female employees would be rendered jobless in the province.

They said they would not allow the provincial government to scrape the organisation which was working for welfare of the oppressed segments of the society.—Correspondent

Flood warning system

PESHAWAR, June 4: Director General, Fata Disaster Management Authority, Arshad Khan, on Saturday said that soon a flood warning system would be set up in Fata with the assistance of UNDP which will help minimise losses in the wake of floods.

Talking to media persons at his office here, Arshad Khan said there was no such system of flood warning in Fata and it was a pressing demand of the area people after destruction by last year catastrophic floods. He said UNDP funded flood warning system would greatly help the authorities in adopting precautionary measures in case of any flood threat.

About repatriation of displaced persons, Mr Arshad said that so far 620 affected families had returned to their homes in Bajaur and Mohamad Agency. Those whose houses were totally destroyed would be paid Rs400,000 as compensation while the owners of partially damaged houses would be paid Rs160,000 for repair of their houses.—APP

Interest-free loans

PESHAWAR, June 4: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has, after approval from Board of Directors, allocated funds for extending long-term interest-free loan to its employees.

According to a notification, flood affected employees of Pesco will get the loan in three different categories.

Those employees whose houses have been completely destroyed, partially damaged or suffered minor losses will get Rs150,000, Rs50,000 and Rs25,000, respectively. The employees will have to pay back these loans in easy monthly installments. The affected employees have thanked the Pesco management for extending financial help in the shape of interest-free loans which will enable them reconstruct their damaged houses.—APP

Condemned

PESHAWAR, June 4: Former federal minister and central leader of Awami National Party Afzal Khan Lala has expressed his profound grief over the killing of journalist, Salim Shahzad.

According to a press release issued here on Saturday, Afzal Lala said that the journalist community played a constructive role for establishment of a healthy society.

Expressing his heartfelt sympathies with the members of the bereaved family, Afzal Khan Lala prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and courage for family members to bear the loss with patience.—APP

Transferred

PESHAWAR, June 4: The provincial government has transferred Nasir Saleem (BS-18), private secretary/deputy secretary to governor, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and posted him as deputy secretary, higher education department.

Similarly, the competent authority has transferred Fida Mohammad (BS-18 P&D Service), EDO (F&P), Upper Dir, and posted him as EDO (F&P) Hangu, in his own pay and scale against the vacant post. It was officially notified by establishment and administration department on Saturday.—APP