Girl commits suicide

SWABI, Jan 12: A young girl committed suicide here on Thursday, police said.In Utla village of the mountainous region of Gadoon Amazai, 16-year-old Zohra committed suicide by eating tablets meant for killing rats.

She was rushed to Ghani Chathra civil hospital where the doctors pronounced here dead. The cause of the incident was stated to be a domestic dispute between the deceased and her parents. — Correspondent

Child molestation case

PESHAWAR, Jan 12: Police have incorporated Section 53 of the Child Protection Act 2010 in the FIR registered against the alleged molestation of a grade-III student in Karak district.

Child Protection and Welfare Commission in a statement issued here on Thursday said that the section of law had been included on the request of child protection unit Kohat in order to ensure dispensation of justice to the victim.

The commission’s deputy chief protection officer, Ijaz Khan, said that as per the Child Protection Act an accused involved in sexual exploitation of a child could be awarded 14 years imprisonment and Rs1 million fine. He said that it was non-bailable crime, adding that the commission would support the victim in order to discourage recurrence of such incidents in the society. — Bureau Report

Alleged car thief killed

NOWSHERA, Jan 12: An alleged car thief was killed and another escaped in injured condition after exchanging fire with the motorway police in the Mahrati area here on Thursday.

The police said they were informed by Banni police station, Rawalpindi, that a car (LRY-5570) was snatched by two accused from its driver and it was on its way to Peshawar. The police cordoned off the motorway at Rashakai area and signaled the car to stop when it reached there.

Officials said that the car lifters started firing on the police and in the return fire an accused was killed, while the other escaped in injured condition. The dead could not be identified.

Akora Khattak police have registered a case and started investigation. — Correspondent

Child marriages

MARDAN, Jan 12: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) has launched a one-week campaign to raise awareness among the masses about the disadvantages of child marriages here on Thursday.

Najibullah, coordinator Child Rights Committee Mardan, said on the occasion that child marriages in Pakistan were a common occurrence in both urban and rural areas. He said that Sparc had launched the campaign with the purpose of creating awareness among the masses.

“Child marriages are unjust and unlawful,” Najibullah said adding that there was an urgent need to amend the Child Marriages Restraint Act of 1929.

The Child Rights Committees (CRC) will organise seminars, walks, and press briefings during the one week campaign, he said and added that more than nine child marriage cases had been reported to Sparc during 2011. — Correspondent

Students get compensation

MARDAN, Jan 12 : The provincial minister for higher education, Qazi Asad, distributed here on Thursday cheques worth Rs10,000 each among the 38 students of Government Girls Degree College, Lundkhwar, who were injured in a terrorist attack in March 2011.

In this regard, a function was held at the college with the provincial minister as chief guest while other participants included secretary higher education Farah Hamid, director higher education Ghulam Qasim Marwat, ANP district president Farooq Akram, college principal Professor Dilshad and staff members.

The provincial minister lauded the effected girl students who courageously faced the attack and did not discontinue their education. He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was committed to provide all facilities to female students. — Correspondent

Tesco clarifies report

PESHAWAR, Jan 12: The Tribal Areas Electricity Supply Company has clarified a news item regarding non-installation of an additional power transformer in Bara Grid Station that appeared in a section of press.

A Tesco spokesman said here on Thursday that a power transformer was procured by the then management in 2008 and it was lying without any further progress.

The spokesman said that other civil works had been completed by Pesco, however, the installation process was handed over to Tesco and it was completed four months back.

The line was ready to be energised but Pesco was reluctant to issue NOC for the same due to their system constraints, the spokesman added.

It is to be mentioned here that some tribesmen had alleged at a press conference a few days ago that Tesco officials had embezzled the funds meant for the upgradation of Bara Grid Station. — Bureau Report