Bandit killed

LAKKI MARWAT, June 14: A bandit was killed and his accomplice arrested in injured condition after exchange of firing on Tank-Pezu road here late on Monday night.

After receiving information about the presence of a group of bandits on Tank-Pezu road, a police party was rushed to the spot, an official said on Tuesday. He said that armed bandits opened fire as soon as police reached there.

After the encounter, police launched a hunt and found a dead body and ammunition in a motorcar. He said that the man was identified as Sher Nawaz alias Sheroo, the kingpin of the gang and wanted by police in five cases of heinous nature. Another bandit, Zahoor Khan, was also arrested in injured condition. —Correspondent

Judicial inquiry sought

PESHAWAR, June 14: Activists of various political parties have criticised Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Sitara Ayaz for what they said embarrassing a woman official of her department through local police.Speaking at a joint press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, PPP-S provincial joint secretary Zulfiqar Aziz, PTI activist Sajid Khan, JUI-F leader Mufti Hakim Ali and PML-Q activist Siddiqur Rehman alleged that police had kept the social welfare officer, Tahira Naveed, for two nights in the police station without registration of FIR.

The woman, they alleged, had been arrested on the basis of an SMS and the concerned SHO kept her in habeas corpus on June 4 at the behest of the woman minister. They called for a judicial probe into the case. —Bureau Report

SMS creates panic

PESHAWAR, June 14: Following the reports about entry of a suicide bomber, security was put on high alert in the provincial capital and police stepped up checking of vehicles and pedestrians here on Tuesday.

A text message about entry of a white Alto car carrying the suicide bomber created panic in the city. The security guards of some offices, quoting police personnel, said that they had special instructions to remain alert at the main gates.

A police source said that they had got the information about three wound be suicide bombers entering Peshawar some days ago. He said that police had also conducted raids in different localities and arrested dozens of people, but no suspected suicide bomber was among them. —Bureau Report

Kidnapped for ransom

PESHAWAR, June 14: A man from Kurram Agency here on Tuesday requested the federal government to help him in recovery of his missing uncle who was allegedly kidnapped for ransom from Rawalpindi a few days ago.

The kidnapped person, Haji Wazir Ali, a resident of Zeran village near Parachinar, is a spare parts dealer and has been running a shop at Parachinar. He had gone to Rawalpindi on Jun 7 to purchase spare parts.

His nephew, Naqeeb Hussain, stated that for two days his uncle did not contact anyone back home. He added that on Jun 11 some unknown persons using his cellphone called them and stated that Haji Wazir was in their custody and demanded Rs7 million ransom.

He requested the federal government including the interior minister to help him trace his uncle. —Bureau Report

PPP protest camp

CHARSADDA, June 14: PPP activists set up a hunger strike camp here at Farooq Azam Chowk on Tuesday against what they called dissatisfactory performance of the party leadership in resolving workers’ problems.

They threatened to stage protest and sit-in in front of the provincial and central offices of PPP if their demands were not accepted by the party leadership.

Addressing the participants of the two-day hunger strike camp, the local PPP leaders alleged that despite being in power for three years, the party leadership has done nothing for the workers. They said that hundreds of flood-affected workers were deprived of Watan cards and BISP forms. They said in contrast workers of their coalition partner ANP were being bestowed with all the facilities.—Correspondent

Irregularities alleged

TIMERGARA, June, 14: All the franchised utility store owners of Dir Lower on Tuesday demanded of the corporation higher authorities to initiate an inquiry against its regional office for irregularities and misappropriation in supply.

In a written statement, Ikramullah, Sajjad Mohammad, Kashif and other owners of the stores alleged that the regional management office at Upper Dir had received Rs13,600,750 from all the franchised stores in the region.

They said they had paid the amount through bank draft for supply of essential commodities but the regional management office held it back and refused to provide the items.

They demanded of the concerned authorities to look into the matter and ensure supply to the stores according to their payment. —Correspondent