Celebratory firing claims lives

MARDAN, June 26: Two persons, including a minor, were killed while another minor sustained bullet injuries when a youth allegedly opened celebratory fire at the wedding function of his brother in Abid Killy locality of Saroshah village on Sunday, eyewitness said.

Eyewitnesses said Yaseen, brother of the bridegroom, Jabber, started celebratory fire during the latter’s wedding function but lost control of the weapon and accidentally showered the guests with bullets killing two identified as Ahmad, 9, and Yaseen, 25, on the spot while critically injuring another minor, Adil Zaman, 13.

The Saroshah police registered a double murder case against the accused Yaseen on the complaint of one of the relatives of the slain, Amjid Ali. The police were yet to arrest the culprit who fled from the scene. — Correspondent

Lightning kills two

KOHAT, June 26: A man of Frontier Constabulary and a woman were killed while two FC personnel were injured when they were struck by lightning in Hangu district on Sunday.

Officials said the security personnel were performing their duty at the Darband mountains when lightning struck their checkpost. As a result, junior commissioned officer, Sanaullah, died on the spot while Rauf and Alam Khan were injured. Meanwhile, Bibi Marjana died when lightning struck her house in Zanki Banda.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed and three others were injured in a head-on collision between a car and Toyota Hiace near the Kohat tunnel on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Bismillah Jan of Mohammad Khawaja, Hangu. Wakeela Jan and Yar Marjan of Mohammad Khawaja and Akhtar Badshah of Kahi were injured. — Correspondent

Narcotics burnt

PESHAWAR, June 26: The customs department on Sunday burnt huge quantity of narcotics to mark the International Anti-Narcotics Day.

Deputy Director, Customs, Rashid Habib Khan told journalists at Azakhel Nowshera, where the narcotics were burnt, that Model Custom Collectorate of Peshawar, in order to celebrate the World Anti-Narcotics Day, had destroyed 776.29kg of heroine powder, 1601.35kg opium, 8702.175kg charas, other perishable and non-perishable goods besides fake cigarettes, which had been seized during various raids.

He said Pakistan Customs remained committed to the cause of total eradication of the menace of drugs and narcotics from the society as it poses serious threat not only to public health but also undermines socio-economic stability and sustainable development.

He urged people to play a positive and constructive role by educating masses and youth to combat narcotics.—APP

New law opposed

PESHAWAR, June 26: Jamaat-i-Islami has opposed promulgation of the Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation, 2011 for the federally and provincially administered tribal areas.

In a statement issued here on Sunday the JI provincial chief Senator Mohammad Ibrahim alleged President Asif Zardari gave licence of extrajudicial killing to the commissioners and all political agents by signing the controversial law.

He said the government had usurped authority of judiciary and gave powers to civil administration to kill and torture political opponents and innocent people.

President Zardari signed Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation Bill, 2011 for Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Karachi two days ago. Senator Ibrahim said JI would go to the court against the law and also approach other political parties.—Bureau Report

Railway infrastructure

PESHAWAR, June 26: Inspector General of Police, Pakistan Railways, Syed Ibne Hussain has said the railways police have adopted foolproof measures to ensure security of railway infrastructure in the Peshawar Division.

Talking to reporters during a visit to Peshawar railway station on Sunday, he said the railway station was the most sensitive facility in the country, where goods destined for Afghanistan were unloaded. He said the railways police had taken measures to protect the railway infrastructure and provide security to trains and passengers to and from Peshawar.

He said the railways police having meager resources and manpower carried regular patrolling of rail tracks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to pre-empt any sabotage activities. He said in the past militants had hurled threats to target the railway infrastructure and trains which transported Nato containers from Karachi to Peshawar. —Bureau Report

Boy stabbed to death

HARIPUR, June 26: An Afghan refugee on Sunday stabbed a teenage boy to death in the precincts of Kotnajibullah police station.

The motive behind murder was reported to be a minor dispute. Police said Mohammad Imran, 17, son of Haider Zaman of village Bagra No 2, was going to house of a relative in the village when Musa Khan, an Afghan refugee, who was living with parents in a rented house in the village, attacked him with a knife injuring him seriously.

The injured was shifted to Women and Children Hospital but doctors pronounced him dead as his main artery in the neck was slit and severe bleeding caused his death.

Deceased's father told police there was no enmity between the two and mere exchange of hot words over unknown reasons claimed life of his son.—Correspondent

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House

MARDAN, June 26: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti visited the under-construction building of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in the city the other day and expressed dissatisfaction over the standard of work.The chief minister was also accompanied by ANP district president Eng Abbas Khan, Commissioner, Mardan, Mohammad Adil Khan, DIG Abdullah Khan, DCO Syed Mohammad Shah, and other officials.

Mr Hoti pointed out some faults in the construction work of different parts of the building and directed the officials to remove these faults. He also instructed the commissioner to visit the building on weekly basis and send him a report regarding construction work. He asked the officials to decorate and renovate the external walls of the building just like the walls of Civil Secretariat Peshawar. —Correspondent