Feud claims four lives

BATKHELA, Oct 3: A man, his two children and a passer-by were killed in a firing incident in Kharkay town in Malakand protected area on Monday.

Wife of deceased, Syed Mohammad, reported to Kharkay Levies Post that she along with her husband and children was coming back home from Dargai after medical examination in Dargai hospital. When they reached near their house accused Mubarak Zeb, Mohammad Zeb, Fazal Khan, and Fazal Karim opened indiscriminate fire on them. As a result her six-year-old daughter Mah Noor and son Wesal died on the spot while her husband and a passer-by Islam were injured seriously. They were rushed to tehsil headquarters hospital Daragi where both succumbed to injuries. The motive behind the killing was stated to be an old enmity.—Correspondent

Constable shot dead

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Oct 3: A constable was shot dead allegedly by his rivals in the limits of Band Korai police station here. Police said on Monday the attackers entered the house of Mohammad Iqbal during night when he was sleeping and opened fire on him. He died instantly.—Correspondent

Man with arms held

PESHAWAR, Oct 3: Police seized arms and ammunition and arrested an alleged smuggler at Kohat Road in suburbs of Peshawar on Monday.

Talking to media persons at Badbher police station, DSP Sajjad Khan said the weapons had been recovered from a pick-up which was on its way from Darra Adamkhel to Punjab.

“Following a tip-off the police established a check point at Zangali area at Kohat Road and intercepted a pick-up (PED-6905). The weapons had been concealed into its secret cavities,” he said, adding, weapons included 18 riles, 19 pistols of 30 bore and 20,000 cartridges of different kinds. He said the alleged smuggler Yaqub of Matni had also been arrested.—Bureau Report

Miners seek compensation

KARAK, Oct 3: Leaders of coal and salt mines labour union have demanded payment of compensation to the families of those who lost lives in accidents in mines in the district.

The labourers took out a rally outside the Karak press club and threatened to stage a sit-in outside the labour commissioner office in Kohat if their demands were not met.

The labour union district president Naveed Khattak, general secretary Taj Mohammad, senior vice president Dunya Gul and family members of the victims participated in the demonstration.

They complained that no safety equipments were provided to the labourers by the lease-holders of mines.

They said the labourers had asked the workers welfare board, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to ensure compensation to the families but no heed was paid.—Correspondent

Plot allotment letters

LAKKI MARWAT, Oct 3: DPO Gulzar Ali Khan on Monday distributed plot allotment letters among the heirs of the deceased police personnel.

He said on the occasion police force was fighting against militants in front lines with strong determination to root out the menace and maintain peace and tranquility in the province.

“In last several years a number of policemen and officials laid down their lives in line of duty to protect the lives of citizens,” he maintained. He said the deceased left behind stories of gallantry to be followed by their colleagues.

He said the government supported the families of deceased ones, equipped them with perks and privileges and also provided them plots so as to enable them to live their life comfortably.—Correspondent

Student’s murder

SWABI, Oct 3: The family of a Pakistani student, who was stabbed to death in London a few days ago, has demanded of the foreign office and Pakistan ambassador to the UK to make early arrangements to bring the body home for burial.

The mother and sister of Irfan Ahmad told Dawn on Monday Irfan had been killed in London allegedly by an Afghan over some unknown dispute.

Irfan’s sister Sumaira Gul, who is an airhostess, said he had gone to England to acquire higher education and also worked part time in a shop to meet his expenses. She said Irfan was in his early 20s and was staying in northern London. She appealed to the foreign office and the Pakistan embassy in UK to make arrangements for bringing the body home.—Correspondent

Media colony in Swat

PESHAWAR, Oct 3: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti on Monday approved media colony in Swat, and a vehicle and Rs1 million grant for the Swat press club.

He gave the approval during a meeting with a delegation of the Swat journalists led by their president Hazrat Bilal and chairman Syed Shahab at CM house on Monday, according to a handout. Mr Hoti lauded media role in establishment of peace and struggle against terrorism in Swat.

He said his government was providing assistance to journalists of the province for their welfare and to help them dispense their responsibilities in a better way.—Bureau Report

Over 200 houses rebuilt

MANSEHRA, Oct 3: The Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates has constructed 211 houses for the survivors of Oct 8, 2005 earthquake in different areas of Mansehra.

Speaking at a press conference the president of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Organisation for Survivors of Hangrai Sardar Haji Ghulam Nabi, and others said keys of the houses would be handed over to the survivors at a ceremony soon.

They said 162 modern houses along with the school and mosque facilities were constructed at Hasari area in Gharihabibullah, 19 in Maswal and 29 in Batdarian. They said the UAERC had built these houses free of cost and only the land was provided by the survivors. They said work on these houses was completed within two years.—Correspondent

Community schools

PESHAWAR, Oct 3: All Fata Community Teachers Association on Monday held a protest demonstration outside Fata Secretariat against the closure of community schools in the tribal regions.

The teachers, both male and female, were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for opening the institutions and release of their salaries.

Talking to media persons the association leader Abdul Malik said some 956 community schools had been opened in Fata from 1998 to 2003 wherein 1,912 teachers and 956 class-IV employees had been appointed but the institutions were again closed in 2010 and the people were rendered jobless.

He said, 84,000 students were enrolled in these schools.

“Our salaries have been stopped and the teachers are unable to feed their children,” he said.—Bureau Report