Odho’s bail restored

RAWALPINDI, Oct 14: Atiqa Odho’s bail, which the civil court had earlier cancelled for her continuous absence from the court, was restored on Friday in liquor recovery case.

The civil court issued arrest warrants of renowned TV artist and former communication adviser to All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) on Oct 11 for her continuous absence from the court.

Atiqa Odho on Friday appeared before Civil Judge Rawalpindi Hamayun Pervez and apologised for her absence.

“The court notice was not properly delivered at my address as I am permanently residing in Karachi but the notice was delivered to someone else in Islamabad,” she explained. She requested the court to cancel her arrest warrants and restore her bail. The court admitted the request and restored her bail and adjourned the hearing of the case till November 15.

On June 5, 2011, Odho was detained by Airport Security Force (ASF) and officials of Pakistan Customs at Benazir Bhutto International Airport for keeping two bottles of liquor in her luggage.— A Reporter

Failures get fourth chance

RAWALPINDI, Oct 14: Three-time failures of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations in Punjab have got fourth chance to attempt passing them.

The decision was taken by inter-examination committee (IEC) and would be applicable in all educational boards in Punjab including Rawalpindi with immediate effect. The decision would help give another chance to students who got failed in Matriculation and Intermediate examinations for the third time in a row. In Rawalpindi Board alone, over 90,000 students of SSC and HSSC got failed in examinations this year having availed all three attempts and this decision would particularly provide a sigh of relief.

While the decision was welcome for students, educationists termed the fourth attempt in examinations a bad idea, arguing that it would encourage lazy students who would not concentrate on their studies with the fourth chance in hand.— Our Reporter

Lone dispensary sans doctor

MURREE, October 14: The only dispensary in the whole union council Sehr Bagla is closed due to non-availability of doctor for the last seven months.

Local residents of the remote areas are facing severe problems as even the basic first aid facility is not available in case of an emergency.

About 4000 students are studying in the Union Council in government and six private schools but no medical facility is provided there. During the open ‘kechehry’ of the Advisor of Chief Minister Punjab Raja Ashfaq Sarwar locals protested last month but no action has so far been taken.

Locals have appealed to CM Punjab to take action and immediately appoint a doctor here. — Correspondent

Drugs smuggling bid foiled

TAXILA, Oct 14: Wah Cantonment police on Friday foiled a bid to smuggle huge quantity of narcotics from Peshawar to Hazara and arrested a couple stated to be members of an inter-provincial gang of drugs smugglers.

Sub-divisional police officer Taxila circle DSP Raja Taifoor Akhter while talking to newsmen here on Friday said that acting on a tip-off Wah Cantonment police launched checking of vehicles on Wah Cant-Hazara road near Mohara chowk and during search of a car (ILT-474) 80 kilogram of chars was recovered from the hidden parts of the vehicle. — Correspondent