Four shot dead in Kohat

KOHAT, July 14: A couple was killed in the name of honour by their relatives, while two persons were shot dead in separate incidents here on Thursday.

The relatives of two lovers, man belonging to Bahadar Kot and woman to Bilitang, were brought to a house in Bilitang by luring them that their marriage ceremony had been arranged there. When at the house, the two were shot in the head and killed instantly by their relatives, Saeed and Raziq.

The Riaz Khan police registered double murder case on the complaint of a family member, Rabia Bibi, and launched investigations.

In Gumbat area, Badam Gul killed his son Allah Gul over money dispute and disappeared to escape law. Awal Gul, the brother of the deceased, registered a case against his father.

In Hayat Shaheed Colony, Mumtaz and his sons Jaffar and Sajid of Kalo Chinna, killed Shah Faisal, resident of Sheikhan village. The Riaz Shaheed police filed a case against the three accused. —Correspondent

‘Politics of dead bodies’

PESHAWAR, July 14: The provincial president of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Asad Qaiser has said that some political forces are playing politics of dead bodies in Karachi.

In a statement issued here on Thursday he said the so-called champions of democracy were issuing such statements which led to ethnic tension in Karachi resulting in killing of innocent people there.

He added this politics of dead bodies was being played for grabbing vote bank of Pakhtuns, Sindhis and Mohajirs in the name of ethnic rights.

The PTI provincial president said PPP, MQM and the ANP were behind the grave law and order situation in Karachi.

He added the prevailing situation in Karachi had affected Pakhtuns the most forcing them to leave their houses. He appealed to the civil society organisations to work for stopping this dirty politics of killings in Karachi. —Bureau Report

Youth electrocuted

BATKHELA, July 14: A youth was electrocuted in a village on the outskirts of Batkhela, Malakand protected area, on Thursday morning.

According to relatives the 20-year-old Farhad, son of Gul Zarin, was checking the electricity regulator due to low voltage in his house that he accidentally touched a live wire. As a result he fainted and was rushed to Batkhela hospital where he was declared dead. —Correspondent

Trade linkages

CHITRAL, July 14: The president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Haji Ghulam Ali has said for its strategic location, Chitral can be used as the gateway to the Central Asian Republics through which the centuries-old trade linkages can be revived.

Talking to a gathering on the occasion of inaugurating the newly established Chitral Chamber of Commerce here on Thursday, he said the completion of Lowari tunnel project would directly link the country with Tajikistan.

Chitral will be elevated to a trade hub when it is connected to the Central Asia by land route, he said. “The opening of chamber of commerce in Chitral on special grounds by relaxing the rules is aimed at gaining this end”, he added.

Mr Ali said to combat the rampant unemployment in the area, the natural resource management could be utilised effectively on modern lines. He announced to provide maximum resources on behalf of FPCCI to establish more model quarries in Chitral. —Correspondent

Pak-Iran relations

PESHAWAR, July 14: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, has said exchange of delegations between Iran and Pakistan is vital for promoting trade and cultural activities to further cement cordial relations between the two countries.

He expressed these views in a meeting with Iranian Consul General, Hassan Dervaish Wand here on Thursday. Deputy Consul General Behram Haidri was also present.

Mian Iftikhar, while discussing the history of friendly relations between two countries, stressed on devising a plan for preserving cultural heritage of two countries for giving next generations a legacy of deep love and harmony.

The provincial minister said Pakhtuns were peaceful people and abhorred extremism. “However, we have been pushed into quagmire of militancy which marred our soft image”.

Hassan Darvesh lauded government efforts for weeding out militancy from the region and achieving durable peace.—APP

Free medical camps

LANDI KOTAL, July 14: Around 6,050 ailing residents from the conflict affected areas of Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency were provided free medical care and about 2,000 children under the age of five were given anti-polio drops during a three-day medical camps organised in three different localities of Bara.Assistant Political Agent, Bara, Reham Khattak told Dawn that the attendance at the medical camps established in Meelwat Akkakhel and Sur Kas was more than encouraging in comparison to medical camps established last month.

He said the camps were established under special directives from the governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to provide free medical assistance to the conflict affected zones of Bara sub-division. “We had made elaborate security arrangements to encourage local residents to come to the camps and avail free medical facilities”, he said. —Correspondent