25 encroachers arrested

PESHAWAR, Jan 18: Following the expiry of deadline on Wednesday to voluntarily remove the encroachments, the administration resumed the anti-encroachment campaign and arrested 25 people for creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic on different roads in Peshawar.

An official said that cases against the accused had been registered at different police stations under section 188 of the PPC. The people were arrested from the areas of Ashraf Road, Nishtarabad, Bhana Manri, City Circular Road, Asia Gate and Sarki Gate.

It was learnt that seven shopkeepers of Ashraf Road had been sent to jail under 16 MPO. The District Coordination Officer Peshawar Siraj Ahmed Khan had assigned the duty to ACO Syed Zafar Ali Shah with directives to remove the encroachments by using heavy machinery. —Bureau Report

Clerks seek service structure

PESHAWAR, Jan 18: The All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Wednesday held a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road against the delay in establishing service structure for them.

The protesters led by Apca’s provincial president Aslam Khan were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for solution of their problems. They also shouted slogans in favour of their demands.

Speaking on the occasion, Apca leaders said the government was intentionally using delaying tactics in this regard.

He said as per rules junior clerk was promoted after ten years but they didn’t get promotion even in 30 years.

He said successive governments were creating problems for the low rank employees and intentionally keeping them deprived of their due rights. He warned that if the demands were not met within ten days the clerks would besiege the Chief Minister House. —Bureau Report

Mardan by-election

MARDAN, Jan 18: PML-N has nominated Nawab Zada Arsala Khan as candidate for the by-election on NA-9 constituency. The election is scheduled to be held on February 20, party sources said.

They said five leaders had submitted their applications for the purpose.

A parliamentary committee constituted at the district level on instructions of the party central leadership in this regard nominated Nawabzada Arsala Khan as the candidate for the by-polls.

It is pertinent to mention here that the ANP and JUI-F have already announced the names of their candidates for the by-elections.

Political experts expect a thrilling contest in the by-election. —Correspondent

Education standard

PESHAWAR, Jan 18: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Education Sardar Hussain Babak on Wednesday said a special convention would be arranged to seek suggestions from experts to improve the education standard of the Bacha Khan Model School Totalai in Buner district.

Chairing a meeting of the board of directors of the school, the minister directed the principal of the school to increase the enrollment of students. He said admission to students at class 9, 10 and 11 would be ensured from upcoming year. The meeting reviewed the annual performance and school budget. The meeting also approved training of teachers, provision of transport service and increase in salaries of teachers and class-IV employees.

On the request of the principal, the minister approved a science laboratory, photocopier, computer, fax machine and other equipments for the school.—APP

Women welfare

PESHAWAR, Jan 18: Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour on Wednesday urged the world community to improve lot of poor women in Pakistan in recognition of country’s sacrifices in war on terror.

Addressing inaugural ceremony of a welfare centre for women here, he said 30,000 people had become victims in war against militancy and thousands of families been affected but the international community did not help Pakistan the way it should have.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, being a frontline province in the war against terror, faced great losses in terms of financial resources, loss of lives and properties.He said the provincial government was giving top priority to welfare of womenfolk as they were facing poverty and unemployment.—APP

Olive nurseries

PESHAWAR, Jan 18: Minister for Agriculture Arbab Ayub Jan said on Wednesday the government was considering various schemes to irrigate more than 250,000 acres of land in southern districts.

Addressing farmers at agriculture research station Ahmad Wala in Karak district, he said reclaiming arid land by providing sufficient irrigation facilities would give a boost to per acre productivity.

Mr Jan said the government was establishing six olive nurseries in Karak owing to its favourable atmosphere for olive growth, adding 2 million olive trees were ample to meet the oil requirements of the country.

He said the government was sincere in developing southern districts and adequate funds were being made available to give impetus to agriculture activities in the regions that were left behind due to unavailability of irrigation facilities.

The minister also announced Rs150 million for a water channel and said 250 tube wells would be provided to interested farmers on 50 per cent concession.—APP

Body found

MINGORA, Jan 18: Body of an aged man was found in Kotlai area of Swat district. The deceased was strangled to death by unknown persons.

On getting information, the police shifted the body to hospital for postmortem.

As the deceased could not be identified, his body was handed over to a local committee which buried it in a local graveyard.—APP

‘Vulgarity in cinema houses’

PESHAWAR, Jan 18: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cultural Journalists Forum on Wednesday demanded strict action against what it said rising number of ‘obscene’ programmes and dramas being shown in cinema houses.

It also demanded stoppage of demolition of cinema houses and establishment of CDs censor board and underlined the need for promotion of healthy cultural activities based on ethical and moral values.

The demands were made during a meeting of the association presided over by its president Ehtisham Toru.

Expressing deep concern over the ongoing vulgarity and obscenity in various CD dramas and stage shows in cinema houses, the association demanded of the provincial government to take stern action against producers and CD owners.

It said such heinous practices was making negative effects on character of youth and were earning bad name for Pakhtuns.—APP