Man found dead

ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: A 47-year-old man was found shot dead in his house at Korang Town Sunday night.

The residents of the area informed the police that they heard the sound of gunshot in house No 77, Street 21. Police reached the house and found Fawad Zafar shot dead in his bedroom. Duty officer at the Koral police station Sub-Inspector Ghulam Jilani told Dawn that the victim had received a bullet from a 30-bore pistol in the chest, adding “it seems he might have committed suicide.”

The residents told the police that Mr Zafar was jobless but he was well-off. When police contacted his servant, he said a few years back Mr Zafar had divorced his Canadian national wife after which she returned to Canada along with her three children.

Later, he married a Pakistani woman who also demanded divorce and went away six months back.

He said after the death of his mother about four months back, Mr Zafar had been living alone in the house. The servant said he had gone to his house in the evening and did not know what happened to Mr Zafar.— A Reporter

Flight aborted

RAWALPINDI, Jan 1: A Multan-bound Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight aborted takeoff during taxing at Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Sunday.

The ATR plane with 48 passengers on board was in the late part of takeoff at 4:45pm when the pilot noticed some technical problem in its brake system and informed the control tower.The plane was brought back to its hangar and the passengers were disembarked and shifted to the lounge.

According to the airline authorities, the flight (PK-681) was expected to take off at 8:40pm. However it was later rescheduled for 1:30am. — Staff Reporter

Date sheet issue

GUJAR KHAN, Jan 1: Students and parents expressed concern over the tough date sheets of primary and middle standard exams issued by the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC).

According to the date sheet, primary standard exam would start on February 1 and continue for six days with no holiday for the minor students to prepare for the next paper. Besides, the students would also have to appear in two papers in a day.

Those appearing in middle standard exam would face the same situation. During six-day exam commencing on February 6, students will have to take six papers in three days – Science and Urdu on February 8; Social Studies and Arabic/Computer on February 9 and English and Math on February 11.   Parents of the students demanded of the Punjab chief minister to direct the examination body to reschedule the date sheets, ensuring at least one holiday before a paper. They also demanded that only one paper should be held in a day.

When contacted, Manager (Operations) Punjab Examinations Commission (PEC) Mohammad Iqbal said parents of some candidates had already taken the issue to the court.—Correspondent

Park given a new look

RAWALPINDI, Jan 1: A park at Satellite Town Block-C has been renovated at a cost of Rs1.7 million.

Inaugurating the park on Sunday, MNA Hanif Abbasi said the Punjab government had allocated a hefty amount for renovation of 24 public parks in the city, including Nawaz Sharif Park. He said new playgrounds were being built in educational institutions while existing ones were being given a new look.

Talking to Dawn, Mohammad Mushtaq, the managing director of Park and Horticulture Agency (PHA), said Rs50 million had been provided for upgradation of Nawaz Sharif Park where work would start soon. — A Reporter