Taseer murder case

RAWALPINDI, Sept 24: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday adjourned the hearing of Salmaan Taseer murder case till October 1 after completion of arguments by the defense counsel.

ATC-II Judge Syed Pervaiz Ali Shah directed the prosecutor, Saif-ul-Malook Advocate, who could not appear before the court on Saturday, to submit his arguments in writing before the court on the next date of hearing.

During the in-camera trial at Adiala Jail, the defense counsel argued before the court that former Governor Salmaan Taseer committed blasphemy provoking the sentiments of the Muslims and the same motivated Malik Mumtaz to kill him.

Raja Shujah-ur-Rehman, a member of the defense counsel while talking to newsmen outside Adiala Jail, said that the counsel informed the court that since it was clearly not an act of terrorism as defined in Section 6 of Anti Terrorism Act, therefore no arguments were needed to be advanced as the record spoke for itself. Meanwhile, scores of office bearers and workers belonging to Sunni Tehreek, Shabab-e-Islami and other religious organizations gathered outside Adiala Jail to stage a protest in favour of the confessed-killer of former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer.— A Reporter

40kg Hashish recovered

ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The Tarnol police on Saturday recovered 40kg Hashish from a vehicle near Motorway Chowk and arrested a narcotics smuggler, the sources said.

A police team while checking vehicles near Motorway Chowk spotted a suspicious car and intercepted it. During search, Hashish weighing 40kilograms was recovered from the car. The narcotic was hidden in the petrol tank and other parts of the car.

Meanwhile, the Ramana Police arrested four accused allegedly involved in several robberies in different areas of the city and also recovered two pistols and two daggers from their possession. The police got information about the presence of robbers’ gang in sector G-10/1. In response to the information, the police raided their hideout and arrested them.

The Sabzi Mandi police arrested a woman, Islama Bibi, during checking near Carriage Factory and recovered 1.1kg hashish from her possession.— Staff Reporter

BISEs to have modern services

ISLAMABAD, Sept 24:  The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) through latest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would provide fast and efficient services to the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs) of the Punjab. PTCL has won a contract from the Punjab government to exclusively provide ICT services to all the eight boards of the Punjab including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, according to a statement of the PTCL issued here on Saturday.—Our Reporter

Police capture five

ATTOCK, Sept 24: Fatehjang Police have arrested a man on charges firing in the air in jubilation at a marriage ceremony.

Police said here on Saturday that Tariq Jameel was arrested from Muhallah Chandi Chowk. Police have also registered a kidnapping case against three persons on abducting a resident Sardar Allahyar of Dhoke Mari village.

Moreover, Attock Saddar Police and Elite force in a joint raid at a gambling den near Faqirabad village have seized a Kalashnikov rifle and 1500 gram hashish from the possession of Talib Hussain that led to his arrest. Separate cases were also registered by the respective Police stations against the all accused.— Correspondent

Old rivalry claims life

GUJAR KHAN, Sept 24: Old rivalry claimed life of a staunch supporter of PML-N in Gujar Khan as his opponents opened fire at him when he was coming out of the mosque after performing evening prayers on Friday.

Asim Ilyas reported to the police that his father Haji Ilyas was attacked by three armed men who fired at him with a carbine (12-bore) and escaped on a motorbike. A leg of the victim was seriously damaged and he breathed his last before reaching the hospital due to profuse bleeding. Police have registered the murder case against Husnain, Mukhtar and Ismaeel and started investigation.— Correspondent

House looted

TAXILA, Sept 24: Three masked men looted a house on gun point in Lalazar. Javaid Faisal, an employee of SNGPL reporting to police said that he was at home when door bell rang.

As soon as he opened the door, three masked men stormed in the house making them hostage and fled away with cash, gold ornaments and other valuables worth Rs0.5 million. Police registered a case and started investigation.— Correspondent

Show cause notice

ATTOCK, Sept 24: SHO city police station was served a show cause notice on Saturday for faulty investigation into the important cases.

District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Muhammad Akhtar Abbass served the show cause notice on SHO city police station Inspector Israr Ahmed Satti. The district police headquarters said that Inspector Satti had been asked to explain why he had showed leniency in keeping proper supervision over the investigation into the sensitive criminal cases of his police station. — Correspondent