Two killed in firing

MARDAN, July 7: Two people were killed when rival groups exchanged fire over a minor dispute in Khan Gari area of Takhtbai here on Thursday.

Police officials said that two groups, one of them led by Farman, Gul and Shafiullah while the other comprising Usman and Darvash, exchanged hot words a few days back over digging of gravel from the river bed.

On Thursday, both the rival groups again confronted each other and exchanged fire, resultantly one person from each group was killed. The victims were identified as Ikramullah and Amrez. Takhtbai police have registered a case against Farman, Gul and Shafiullah on the compliant of Hazer Mohammad, while the second FIR was lodged on the compliant of Rafiullah against Usman and Darvash. — Correspondent

Protest against loadshedding

CHARSADDA, July 7: People blocked a Motorway link road near Turangzai for over seven hours to protest prolonged power outages here on Thursday.

The enraged protesters came on the road early in the morning and burnt tyres at various places and disrupted the traffic.

They chanted slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and continued the road blockade till 12 noon.

The protesters said that the Pesco was resorting to unjustified loadshedding spanning 12 to 16 hours a day. They said that the prolonged power suspension had also created shortage of drinking water. The road blockade was lifted after the Pesco executive engineer assured the protesters that a separate feeder would be provided to Turangzai area and the low voltage problem would also be resolved at the earliest. — Correspondent

Hashish seized

KOHAT, July 7: The police foiled an attempt of smuggling hashish from the tribal areas to down country and arrested two carriers on Indus Highway here on Thursday.

A police team stopped a suspicious car number LHX-4090 near the Kohat tunnel toll plaza. Upon search, four kilograms of fine quality hashish were recovered from secret cavities in the car. The police arrested the accused, Mohammad Arif and Mohammad Amir, residents of Khyber Agency and impounded the car for further investigations. — Correspondent

Protection for NGOs

GHALANAI, July 7: A one-day training workshop on protection for non-governmental and community based organisations was held at Mohmand Press Club under the auspices of Centre of Excellence for Rural Development and International Rescue Committee here on Thursday.

A large number of representatives of civil societies and NGOs attended the workshop. IRC protection coordinator Sheraz Khan said on the occasion that according to the 1973 constitution, every citizen had a right to security, dignity and development.

He said that major migrations occurred due to lack of health and education facilities in the area. — Correspondent

Six injured on road

NOWSHERA, July 7: Six people, a woman among them, were injured in a collision between a passenger coach and tractor near Pashtun Garhi here on Thursday.

The coach (Peshawar-U-2331) was going to Nowshera from Peshawar when it collided with the tractor, injuring six passengers. They were identified as Farid Gul and his wife Jan Wali of Pir Sabaq, Shah Khalid, Ziad Ahmad, Abdul Raheem and Zarawar. They were shifted to Pabbi Satellite Hospital. Farid Gul and his wife were shifted to Peshawar in precarious condition. — Correspondent

Seminar on diseases

TIMERGARA, July 7: A seminar on molecular treatment of epilepsy, diabetes and multi-drug resistance (MDR) infection was organised by the department of chemistry of Malakand University here on Thursday.

The seminar was sponsored by the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad. A lecture was delivered by eminent scientist Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhry, director HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi. The speaker discussed the use of natural product chemistry in medical sciences. On this occasion, Prof Dr Mohammad Rasul Jan, vice-chancellor Malakand University, was the chief guest. He presented vote of thanks to the speaker for coming to University of Malakand and for presenting an informative lecture. Faculty members and students of concerned departments attended the seminar. — Correspondent

Anti-PPP propaganda

MANSEHRA, July 7: PPP coordinator for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Senator Sardar Ali Khan has said that party workers and office-bearers should spend their energies to counter the anti-PPP propaganda and conspiracies hatched by its political rivals.

“It is highly regrettable that anti-PPP forces have once again been united and are hatching conspiracies to dislodge the government but the party workers should be united to foil their conspiracies,” said Mr Khan while addressing party workers here on Thursday. Provincial Minister for Food Shujah Salim Khan was also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Shujah Slam Khan said that grievances of party workers would be addressed.

He added that when PPP and ANP took over the government in KP, people were being killed by terrorists, but now the situation had completely changed and terrorist were on the run. — Correspondent

Report on blast submitted

PESHAWAR, July 7: The inquiry committee established by the provincial government to probe the Khyber Supermarket blasts in cantonment area submitted its report to the home department here on Thursday, terming it a suicide attack.

At least 40 persons were killed and 100 others injured, mostly students, in twin explosions in the market a few days ago.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government formed the inquiry committee headed by additional IG investigation Tanveerul Haq Sipra to probe the cause of blasts in view of contradictory statements given by the officials.

The committee was mandated to probe the Khyber Supermarket blast from different angles. The committee termed the incident a suicide attack and submitted relative details including model, engine, and chassis number of the motorcycle used in the attack. — APP

Payment to teachers

PESHAWAR July 7: The government has started payment to teachers for enlisting houses in the militancy-hit Swat district and distributed Rs900,000 among them.

Special district magistrate Farhatullah Khan Marwat distributed 21 cheques among the teachers who enlisted houses in tehsil Kabal of Swat district.

Speaking on the occasion, the magistrate said that teachers who participated in the house enlistment would be facilitated. The house enlistment would help government to ascertain damages suffered by the people of Swat due to militancy and floods.

President All Teachers Association Sikhandar Shah thanked the government for providing payment to teachers and assured full cooperation. — APP