NEWS IN BRIEF

Published August 14, 2011

Two bodies found

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: Two bullet-riddled bodies were found in agriculture fields here on Saturday, police said.

An official of the Chamkani police station said body of a young man had been found at Dauranpur near Budhni road, which had several bullet marks. He said the victim was identified as Azam of Mohmand Agency. “He had a piece of paper inside his pocket which led to his identification,” the official said, adding, his relatives took the body but avoided nominating the accused. He was stated to be a businessman living in Peshawar.

Another body of a man was found along the Kishangarh road in limits of Matni police station. An official said the victim had beard and bore many bullets injuries. He said local people had been asked to identify the body but it seemed it had been thrown there after being killed somewhere else. —Bureau Report

Blast kills worker

SWABI, Aug 13: A worker was killed when explosives went off at an industrial unit at the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate here on Saturday, police and industry officials said.

They said the workers at Daud Steel Mills were busy in their routine work when the explosives went off near the mills furnace, killing Zahir Shah on the spot. Other workers escaped unhurt. The victim belonged to Topi area.

Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy drowned while taking a dip in a pond in Topi. The boy was identified as Hassan Khan. His body was fished out from the water and handed over to family. —Correspondent

Strike called off

CHITRAL, Aug 13: The government contractors of Chitral on Saturday called off their strike after the transfer of the executive engineer of the communications and works department from the district.

Addressing a press conference, the leaders of the government contractors Jandulah Khan, Noor Ahmed Khan, Shahzada Sikandar, Fakhruddin, Mughal Baz and others said they had started strike against the officer one month ago for obstructing their work.

They said now they would resume their work and also take part in the tendering process of the department as their demand had been fulfilled.

They thanked the local MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin, provincial Minister Saleem Khan, MPA Ghulam Mohammad and ANP district president Syed Muzafar Jan for having the officer transferred from the district. —Correspondent

Pakistan rally

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: A group of students belonging to different Fata regions on Saturday held a ‘stable Pakistan’ rally outside Peshawar press club to express solidarity with Pakistan on eve of the Independence Day.

The students came to the venue in a procession from Government College Peshawar, holding banners, national flags and placards inscribed with slogans of prosperity, stability and development of the country. They were also shouting slogans for safety of the country.

Those led the rally included Fata Students Federation president Haroon Luqman Afridi, Shafiq Safi, Gul Satar, Riaz, Burhanuddin and Khan Bahdar.

Talking to media persons they said tribal people had rendered sacrifices for the independence of the country. They added the youth were obligated to pull the country out of the current challenges. —Bureau Report

Independence Day

KOHAT, Aug 13: The district government on Saturday finalised arrangements for celebrating the 63rd Independence Day.

A meeting presided over by the District Coordination Officer Shahidullah Khan was informed that the day would be marked by the main flag hoisting ceremony at the rest house of the district council in KDA town, followed by national anthem, recitation from holy Quran, debate and Naat competitions and national songs.

Tehsil Municipal Officers of Kohat and Lachi tehsils, DPO Mubarak Zeb and ACO Naeem Sadozai also attended the meeting.

The houses of commissioner, DCO, DPO and TMOs would be illuminated on the night of August 14. —Correspondent

Tree plantation drive

KOHAT, Aug 13: The commissioner Kohat division has exhorted the forest department to pay special attention to post-tree plantation measures to make sure that the small plants are turned into grown up trees.

The Commissioner Sahibzada Mohammad Anees on Saturday launched the monsoon tree plantation campaign by planting a sapling in the lawns of his residence. He said millions of plants were destroyed every year due to absence of care.

The divisional forest officer Mohammad Idrees told the commissioner they had fixed a target of planting 367,362 saplings this year.

He said defence forces would be given 30,000 plants, government departments 10,000, farmers 114,513 and NGOs 25,000 saplings for planting them in the Kohat division. —Correspondent

Reforms welcomed

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Syed Zahir Ali Shah and Minister for Excise and Taxation Liaquat Shabab have described the FCR Reforms Ordinance as a revolutionary step taken by the federal government.

In separate statements on Saturday, they said the government enabled the tribesmen of Fata to get independence after 110 years. They maintained it was a dream of the late prime ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto to give democratic rights to the people which was materialised by the incumbent government.

They said the tribesmen had been struggling for the basic human rights, extension of Political Parties’ Act to the Fata and for amendments in the FCR. They said the credit went to the PPP-led coalition government which gave tribesmen their due rights. —Bureau Report

Urs of Sufi saint

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: Seventh Urs of noted Sufi saint Hazrat Allama Syed Mohammad Ameer Shah (RA) will be observed with religious fervour today (Sunday).

In this connection, Khatm-i-Quran will be held at the shrine of Hazrat Abul Barakat Syed Hasan Badshah Qadiri Geelani (RA) after Zuhr prayers and the programme will continue till Iftar. Concluding Dua will be held after distribution of Langar.

Besides, Khatm-i-Ghausia will also be held under the supervision of Faqeer Syed Mohammad Noorul Hasnain Qadiri Geelani.

It is pertinent to recall that seven years back the beloved personality of Peshawarites Mohammad Ameer Shah breathed his last. He was not only a prominent religious scholar but also a spiritual figure, who spread the message of peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general and in Peshawar in particular. —Bureau Report

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