Lawyers’ strike in Mansehra

MANSEHRA, Sept 7: The lawyers’ fraternity on Wednesday boycotted the court proceedings against the killing of their colleague, Faheem-al-Kareem, in Karachi.

The district bar association also held a condolence meeting under its president Naseem Khan Swati. Mr Swati and others said on the occasion that government had failed to protect the lives of the innocent people in Karachi.

They said that the government could not control lawlessness in the port city. They also demanded arrest of the killers of the slain lawyer. —Correspondent

Rs20m assistance for Sindh

PESHAWAR, Sept 7: On the instructions of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has released Rs20 million for the relief and rescue efforts for the flood affected people of Sindh.

According to a handout issued here on Wednesday, the PDMA had already sent 25 truckloads of food and non-food items during Ramazan for the flood affected people of Badin.

In a letter to Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Mr Hoti expressed his sympathies with the government and people of Sindh for their losses and prayed to Almighty Allah for their safety. —Bureau Report

PPP rejects report

PESHAWAR, Sept 7: Pakistan People’s Party, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, secretary information and provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Liaqat Shabab has rejected reports that the family of former governor Naseerullah Babar was joining Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, he said that the report appearing in a section of press was baseless and mere propaganda.

He, however, confirmed that a sister of Naseerullah Babar had decided to join PTI, which he said was her democratic right, adding that the rest of family members of the former governor wanted to remain associated with PPP. —Bureau Report

Power plant for Chitral

CHITRAL, Sept 7: To solve the problem of acute shortage of power in Chitral city and its outskirts, a private hydro power station will be set up on Chitral-Garam Chashma Road.

This was announced by president of Chitral Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Mohammad Khan at a press conference here on Wednesday.

He said that the 2-megawatt power station would be completed in a record time of six months at Khora Lusht of Shali village.

He was flanked by the chairman of power committee of the city Khan Hayatullah Khan, former tehsil naizm Sartaj Ahmed Khan, Col (retd) Sardar Mohammad Khan, Maulana Jamshed and others. —Correspondent

Salaries demanded

LANDI KOTAL, Sept 7: The class IV employees of the destroyed government schools in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency have demanded release of their salaries and constituted a three-member committee to chalk out their future line of action.

The employees held a meeting in Bara on Wednesday with association president Aqil Khan in the chair and termed suspension of their salaries by the authorities as an unlawful act.

The meeting took serious exception to the decision of the local political administration regarding suspension of their salaries under the collective territorial responsibility clause of Frontier Crimes Regulation and alleged that class IV employees were being unlawfully punished for a crime they had not committed. —Correspondent

IT lab for Kohat school

KOHAT, Sept 7: Provincial Minister for Housing Amjid Khan Afridi inaugurated a science and information technology laboratory set up at a cost of Rs4 million at government higher secondary school, Togh Bala here on Wednesday.

He highlighted the importance of science and technology and said that it could not be ignored for competing with the developed countries.

He said that for this purpose the provision of quality and modern education had become essential for the teachers and students.

The secretary, Hamayun Khan, in his speech said that the government was aware of its responsibilities and generously giving funds for science and technology education at various levels. —Correspondent

Four injured in firing

LAKKI MARWAT, Sept 7: Four people were injured when two groups exchanged firing at a marriage party in Zangikhel village late on Tuesday night.

The incident took place in the jurisdiction of Lakki Marwat police station.

Sources said that exchange of hot words between two groups led to firing during a musical concert arranged in connection with the marriage of a villager. Those injured in the firing included Ziaul Islam, Usman Ghani, Fazlur Rehman and Samiullah.

They were immediately taken to a city hospital. Police have registered a case against the culprits on the complaint of an injured Ziaul Islam and started investigation. —Correspondent

Shortage of forest staff

ABBOTTABAD Sept 7: Haji Mohammad Zeb, president Forest Guard Union Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has demanded that the vacant positions of field staff should be appointed in the forest department to ensure protection of forests from illegal cutting.

He was addressing a press conference at Abbottabad Press Club on Wednesday.

He said that the chief minister was taking keen interest in strengthening the forest department.

He lauded the decision of creating separate forest zone of Hazara range and demanded a separate forest zone for Malakand.

He said that the ratio of field staff was very low as compared to the forest area and demanded increase of 20 to 30 per cent staff so that the natural wealth could be protected. —Correspondent

Rockets fired

KHAR, Sept 7: Suspected Afghan-based militants targeted different localities in Manro Jangle area of Mamond tehsil with rockets, partially damaging a house. However, no casualty was reported.

The security forces and lashkar volunteers retaliated and forced the militants to flee to Kunar province of Afghanistan, said sources. —Correspondent