Three shot dead

CHARSADDA, July 25: Three people were killed in two incidents in Shabqadar Doaba on Monday.

Two persons, Bawar Khan and Rehman Gul of Jamut Doaba, were killed when two rival groups exchange fire over a petty dispute. The Batgram police registered cross FIR on the complaints of both the sides.

In Hajizai area unknown persons opened fire on Yasin alias Asmathullah of the same area as a result he was killed on the spot.

The Nehqi police registered case against unknown persons on the report of the relatives of the deceased.

Meanwhile, a man was killed after cardiac attack during a protest demonstration and sit-in against prolonged loadshedding and low-voltage by residents of Dhaki Mirabad and surrounding areas.—Correspondent

Body found

MARDAN, July 25: A man, driving a rickshaw, was killed by unidentified men in the jurisdiction of Sheikh Maltoon Town on the night between Sunday and Monday, police said.

The police quoted Fazal Wahab, the father of the deceased, as saying that he was informed by someone that body of his son, Hassan Wahab, was lying in the fields of Palato area.

He said his son went out of his home with his three-wheeler at noon as a routine.

He told police he and his family had no enmity with any body. The Sheikh Maltoon police, however, registered FIR against unidentified killers on the complaint of Fazal Wahab.—Correspondent

Drug traffickers held

KOHAT, July 25: Two women along with their two male accomplices were arrested while smuggling hashish to Punjab on Kohat-Rawalpindi interchange on Tuesday.

The Bilitang police stopped a Rawalpindi-bound Toyota Hiace and on search recovered 13 kilograms of fine quality hashish and arrested Kaneeza Bibi of Sarai Naurang and Aziza Bibi of Essa Khel, Mianwali.

On their disclosure the police recovered nine kilograms of hashish from their two tribesmen accomplices traveling to Rawalpindi in another Hiace coach. They were identified as Ayaz Khan and Laiq Shah of Sadda, Kurram Agency.

Meanwhile, a minor boy was killed by a stray bullet in Merozai area of Kohat on Tuesday.

Shah Zeb, 5, was playing in his home when a stray bullet fired from somewhere hit his head. He died in hospital. —Correspondent

Workers’ convention

PESHAWAR, July 25: Speakers at a convention of Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union on Monday accused the Pesco administration of creating hurdles in solution to their longstanding demands and warned that the workers will soon announce date for hunger strike in this regard.

The convention was addressed by Mohammad Iqbal, Yaqoob Khan, Liaquat Ali, Ali Syed, Gohar Taj and others.

The speakers stressed the need that Pesco should accept the charter of demands of the union and give promotions to all the workers. They also asked for payment of monthly and overtime allowances.

The Pesco was also asked to separate the duties of line superintendents, recovery staff, and anti-theft squad and ensure the provision of 40 per cent hard area allowance to the workers.—Bureau Report

Blood donation camp

PESHAWAR, July 25: The Fatmid Foundation and Rotary Club New City organised a blood donation camp at Hazar Khani here on Monday where blood screening tests were conducted by specialist doctors for thalassaemia patients.

Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, a spokesman of Fatmid Foundation, told reporters the camp was organised to create mass awareness regarding the spread of thalassaemia and outline the precautionary measures to combat this fatal disease.

He said some 78 volunteers donated blood for thalassaemia patients. The local people and family members of patients lauded the efforts of Fatmid Foundation for serving patients suffering from the disease.

The people assured full cooperation in organising donation camps in different localities of the Peshawar district.—Bureau Report

Dispute over plot

PESHAWAR, July 25: Asghar Khan of Shahi Payan, Peshawar has blamed police and Provincial Minister Pervez Khattak for forcing him to withdraw a criminal case against an armed man.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar press club on Monday the complainant said he had bought a plot at Nawagai Town from Ajmal Khan but another person had also claimed its ownership and after exchange of hot words opened fire at him with a pistol and escaped.

“The police registered a case against the attacker and arrested him but the next day police asked me to withdraw the case,” he said, adding, when he refused to do so the police kept him in habeas corpus for two days and tortured him.—Bureau Report

Chitral uplift

CHITRAL, July 25: The heads of five partners of a Norway-funded programme, Chitral Area Development Project (CIADP), have decided to continue working with the programme and have dissociated themselves with the other partners who had decided otherwise.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the chairmen of different support organisations -- Abdul Majeed Qureshi, Eng Mohammad Ayub, Shahzad Qubbad, Asfandiar Khan and Isalm Akbaruddin -- said they had a good working experience with CIADP during the last two years.

They said the programme not only enhanced the capacity of the local support organisations but also provided them with necessary funds for developing infrastructure in different sectors.—Correspondent

Roads’ reconstruction

MINGORA, July 25: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has released Rs270 million for reconstruction of roads in militancy-hit Malakand division, says Shakeel Qader Khan, DG Provincial Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA).

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said the provincial government was spending Rs250 million on the reconstruction of Excelsior College Swat and Sangota Public School, which were damaged during the militancy. Similarly, Rs300 million were being spent on reconstruction of 13 agriculture channels in Swat to stimulate agriculture sector.

Mr Khan said the government in collaboration with the USAID had given cash grants and equipment to 265 hotels of the district that resulted in immediate opening of these places for tourists.

He said work on different schemes of reviving trout fish farms was in progress.—Correspondent