Constable gunned down

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Aug 26: Unidentified attackers gunned down a constable on duty at the district headquarters hospital here on Thursday night, police and hospital sources said.

The police said Constable Sohail Abbas was on duty at the DHQ hospital when some gunmen attacked him. He died instantly.

The attackers escaped the area after the incident. Senior police officials reached the spot after receiving information about the killing. DIG, Dera Ismail Khan range, also visited the hospital to supervise the situation.

The cant police station registered case against unidentified accused and started investigation.

Meanwhile, the police launched a crackdown against proscribed religious organisations in the wake of fresh wave of violence in the Dera city and arrested eight suspects.—Correspondent

Cylinder blast victims

KOHAT, Aug 26: A woman and her two children who were injured in a gas cylinder blast in Gumbat area on Rawalpindi road the other day died on Friday.

Gul Rehman’s wife and daughter were cooking on a gas cylinder inside their room when it exploded due to gas leakage, injuring them severely. Rehman’s 26-year-old son, Altaf, also suffered severe burn injuries in the incident. They were taken to Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.

The woman, Basmina, her young daughter and son succumbed to injuries on Friday. Their bodies were brought to the native village and laid to rest amid moving scenes.—Correspondent

Man axed to death

CHARSADDA, Aug 26: A man was axed to death and his wife was injured by unknown persons at their home in Umarzai area.

Abdul Basit, 15, son of the victim, told Umarzai police when he woke up after shouts and screams at his home in Gul Faraz Korona he saw a man axing his father, Zolan Shah, while another helping him. Mr Basit said his father died on the spot while his mother sustained wounds.

The police registered case against unknown assailants and started investigation.—Correspondent

Girl killed on road

MANSEHRA, Aug 26: A four-year-old girl was killed when a speeding truck knocked her down here on Friday.

The police said Johee Bibi, 4, and her elder sister, were crossing the road near Tanki Square when a truck hit Johee, injuring her seriously. Her sister escaped unhurt.

The injured girl was taken to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital where she died. The city police station arrested the truck driver, Mohammad Shafiq.—Correspondent

Aerial firing

PESHAWAR, Aug 26: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IGP Fiaz Ahamd Khan Toru has directed police high ups to take effective measures for ensuring prevention of aerial firing on the occasion of “Chand Raat” and Eidul Fitr.These directives were issued to all DIGs and DPOs through a special circular released from Central Police Office here on Friday. “Our religion teaches us peace, brotherhood and tranquility whereas aerial firing is an un-Islamic and illegal act,” he reminded in the circular.

The IGP further said indiscriminate aerial firing could pose serious threat to precious human lives in addition to creating fear and panic among the peaceful citizens. He directed the police high ups to adopt concrete measures and put an effective halt to the menace of aerial firing.—Bureau Report

New campuses

MARDAN, Aug 26: The authorities of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan on Friday approved to establish new campuses at Timergara, Buner, Nowshera, Pabbi and Chitral.

The decision was made at a meeting presided over by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ishan Ali. The meeting also approved new courses for some departments.

Prof Ihsan Ali told participants that such courses should be designed and introduced in the departments concerned which were according to the demands of the modern era.

He pointed out the university was opening new campuses at different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to provide opportunities of higher education to students at their doorsteps.—Correspondent

Cases disposed of

PESHAWAR, Aug 26: The Peshawar District and Sessions Judge Ziauddin Khattak on Friday visited the Peshawar Central Prison and disposed of cases of 19 prisoners involved in petty offences.

The judge took exception to the non-availability of a lady doctor in the prison and directed the provincial health secretary to depute a doctor there forthwith.

The judge, a few days back, took notice of the non-posting of lady doctor at the prison following which the health department had issued orders to this effect. However, despite passage of several weeks the doctor did not turn up to take charge of her post. The superintendent of the prison, Khalid Abbas, informed the judge about the problems being faced by female prisoners due to non-availability of a female doctor.—Bureau Report

Contractors’ concerns

KARAK, Aug 26: The district contractors association has expressed resentment over alleged distribution of contracts of development works among the blue-eyed people of the elected representatives.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, a leader of the contractors association, Mohammad Janan, said the authorities of the nation building departments in Karak district had ignored the genuine contractors in the award of contracts of uplift schemes.

He said the contracts were doled out to the contractors on the basis of political affiliation on the recommendation of the elected representatives.

He said the practice not only resulted in the low quality of construction works but also caused huge losses to the public exchequer. The political interference in the award of contracts paved the way for embezzlement of funds by the non-qualified contractors, he alleged.—Correspondent

‘1122’ workers awarded

PESHAWAR, Aug 26: Over hundred workers of Rescue 1122 were awarded cash and commendations certificates, who had taken part in the rescue operation after a blast at the CID station at University road on May 25, this year.

The awards were given in a ceremony held at the head office of the Rescue 1122 on Friday, wherein the newly appointed Director General of the Rescue 1122, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Zakir Hussain Afridi, was the chief guest.

Besides the certificates, each worker was awarded cash prize of Rs2,000 for saving lives of the policemen.

The director general appreciated the services of the rescue workers and expressed the hope that they would continue their efforts to save lives of needy people in future.—Bureau Report