NEWS IN BRIEF

Published July 12, 2011

Truck driver shot dead

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, July 12: Unidentified bandits shot dead a truck driver and took away cash and valuables from the vehicle on Tank-Pezu Road in the early hours here on Tuesday.

Police said that the bandits intercepted a truck (QAH-8139) near Darakai on Tank-Pezu Road 15km off here and shot dead the driver on offering resistance.

The robbers took away cash and valuables from the vehicle and escaped.

The victim was identified as Ghalib Khan son of Sadullah Khan. Police have registered the case and started investigation. —Correspondent

Growers stage protest

CHARSADDA, July 12: Tobacco growers held a protest demonstration here on Tuesday and rejected the price of new crop fixed by the tobacco purchasing companies and the Kissan Board.

They said that they would move the Supreme Court if the companies failed to announce a proper and justifiable price of the crop till July 15. They criticised the government for failing to take notice of the exploitation of growers by the companies.

They said that tobacco growers suffered huge loss as the prices of fertiliser, agriculture medicines and diesel had increased manifold, but the purchasing companies and the Pakistan Tobacco Board had failed to increase the price of the crop to provide them relief. —Correspondent

Commissionerate system

PESHAWAR, July 12: General secretary Local Council Association (LCA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Israrullah Khan said here on Tuesday that revival of commissionerate system in Sindh was a blatant violation of the constitution.

According to a press release issued here, he said that the revival of the centuries old colonial system would be resisted which was in violation of the Articles 140A, 32 and 175 (3) of the Constitution.

He said that LCA of all the provinces would soon meet to chalk out strategy for protests against the revival of commissionerate system.

He said that the Constitution provided for commanding role of the elected representatives in the affairs of local governments.

He demanded of all the political parties and civil society to raise their voice against revival of commissionerate system. —Bureau Report

Security man dies on road

KARAK, July 12: A security man was killed and four others suffered injuries when their vehicle overturned on Indus Highway here on Tuesday.

Officials said that a convoy of security forces was going to Dera Ismail Khan when a vehicle overturned while negotiating a sharp turn near Speena Banda, killing a security man and injuring four others. The victim was identified as Qurban.

The injured personnel included Qadeer, Tanveer, Lateef and Asif. They were taken to the Fauji Foundation Hospital in Lachi Town of Kohat.

Later, they were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Kohat. —Correspondent

Butchers violate official price

SWABI, July 12: Butchers across the district have been violating the official price list and were charging consumers Rs45 per kg more than the price fixed by the district administration.

People of Tehsil Topi, Shewa Adda and some other areas on Tuesday told Dawn that there was a difference of Rs45 in the price set by the district administration and the one being charged by the butchers.

When contacted, tehsil municipal officials said: “We have set beef price at Rs175 per kg but the butchers are not observing that.”

A source said that a team of butchers met DCO Mohammad Shah four days back and demanded that the price of meat should be increased.

However, the TMO, who was also present on the occasion, said that if we increase the price to Rs200 per kg, the butchers would start selling it at Rs250. —Correspondent

Officials warned of action

BUNER, July 12: The chairman of District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC), MPA Said Rahim Khan, has expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of line departments and warned that strict action would be taken against the officials responsible for negligence.

He was speaking at the monthly meeting of DDAC held in Daggar, the district headquarters of Buner, on Tuesday. District coordination officer Syed Mujeebur Rehman, heads of line departments and media persons participated in the meeting.

The DDAC chairman expressed displeasure over the incomplete reports of various line departments, especially education, health, Pesco and forest. He reminded the officials to change their mindset and present complete reports about postings, transfers and developmental works in the district.

He also directed the communication and works department and TMAs to provide fans and potable water in Daggar sub-jail. —Correspondent

Workshop on TB

CHARSADDA, July 12: Eight new TB centres have been established in the district to facilitate the tuberculosis patients.

This was stated by Tahir Haider, district social mobiliser of National TB Control Programme, while speaking at a one-day training workshop organised for media persons here on Tuesday.

He said that the people should not show hatred toward the TB patients as the disease was not communicated to others by shaking hands or interacting with the patients. He urged the journalists to create awareness about the disease among the masses. —Correspondent

Cabinet dissolved

CHITRAL, July 12: The chief organiser of Dubai-based Overseas Chitralis Welfare Association has dissolved the cabinet of the association due to the alleged involvement of its office-bearers in active politics and misusing its platform for political benefit.

Addressing a press conference on telephone from Dubai here on Tuesday, Mukarram Ali said that on the demand of majority of the members of the association, he was forced to exercise his powers vested in him to dissolve the cabinet forthwith.

He alleged that the president, Sultan Mohammad, tried to convert the association into a body of Tahrik-i-Insaf while the by-laws of the association strictly prohibited the involvement of office-holders in party politics. —Correspondent

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