Man gets life for murder

KARAK, Jan 19: The district and sessions judge Karak on Thursday awarded death sentence to a man involved in the killing of six women. The court acquitted the brother of the convict in the same case.

The DSJ Fazal Subhan awarded death sentence to Hakeem Zada, resident of Speena Banda for killing Saima Bibi, Zainat Bibi, Naheed Akhter, Niaz Marjana, Noshad Bibi and Masroof Jana of the same family over a dispute of a piece of land a year ago.

His brother Mohammad Rehman was acquitted in the case. Hakeem Zada was serving in the Frontier Constabulary.

In another murder case, Additional Sessions Judge, Banda Daud Shah, Hayat Gul Mohammad awarded life imprisonment to three Hameed Khan, Gul Nawaz and Shakeel Nawaz in the murder case of Asmatullah, resident of Sraykhwa. The court also fined each convict Rs100,000.

They would have to undergo six months imprisonment if they failed to pay the fine. — Correspondent

Anti-encroachment drive

PESHAWAR, Jan 19: The administration continued action against the encroachers on Thursday and arrested 57 people for violation in different parts of Peshawar.

An official of the DCO office said the encroaches had been arrested during operation at Shero Jangi, Landi Sarak, Bakhshi Pul, Faqirabad Chowk and Charsadda Bus Stand. Their belongings were also confiscated in the anti-encroachment drive.

The DCO Peshawar Siraj Ahmed had directed the ACO Syed Zafar Ali Shah to take strict action against those taking law into their hands and creating hurdle in smooth flow of traffic.

The action, he said would continue till clearance of all the main roads where encroachments had created severe traffic problems. — Bureau Report

Stolen vehicle recovered

KOHAT, Jan 19: The police recovered a vehicle stolen from Peshawar and arrested an army man at the Kohat-Punjab border at Khushalgarh here on Thursday.

The police said an army sepoy serving in EME unit hired a taxi from Peshawar for Kohat and snatched it from the driver near Malangabad area of Kohat by showing him a dagger.

The driver of the car (RIR-8617), Hikmat Badshah, resident of Badhaber, Peshawar, lodged a report of the incident at the Junglekhel police station on Wednesday night. The police sealed all the exit and entry points to recover the car.

The vehicle was intercepted at the Khushalgarh checkpost. During preliminary interrogation he told the police that the driver owed him some money therefore he snatched the car from him. But his claim was proved false after inquiry.

The Junglekhel police shifted the car to Kohat city and registered case against the accused. — Correspondent

Widow gets pension benefits

PESHAWAR, Jan 19: The government on Thursday allowed the pension benefits to the widow of late Prof Abdul Akram Baig, former director education.

In an official notification issued from the office of the chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the pension benefits of the late professor were allowed to his widow from December 12, 1981 after attaining the age of superannuation.

The widow of late Prof Baig had filed an appeal in the office of Provincial Ombudsman for seeking relief.—APP

Death sentence for killer

SWAT, Jan 19: Additional Sessions Judge Zahid Mehmood on Thursday awarded death sentence to an accused in a murder case in Bahrain area of Swat district and imposed a fine of Rs0.3 million on him.

The accused Rehmanuddin, resident of Madyan, had killed Hussain Rehman over a monetary dispute.

The court awarded death sentence to the accused after he was found guilty of killing.—APP

Swat receives snow, rain

MINGORA, Jan 19: Rain and snow lashed plain and mountainous areas of the Swat district dipping the temperature further.

According to reports, the plain areas of Swat, including Mingora,    received rain while the upper areas like Kalam, Malam Jabba, Marguzar, Shangla Top, Miandam, Bahrain and other areas received snowfall. It was reported that mercury in these areas dipped to as low as minus 14 degree centigrade.

The snowfall caused closure of major roads in the mountainous areas and badly affected the routine life.—APP

Training programme

PESHAWAR, Jan 19: The first ever national ‘train the trainer programme’ for associated degree in education for college teachers concluded at the University of Peshawar.

The four-day event was jointly organised by Institute of Education and Research and Pre-Service Teacher Education. Forty college teachers from across Pakistan participated in the event.

The chief guest of the closing ceremony was Vice-Chancellor, University of Peshawar, Prof Dr Azmat Hayat Khan. Addressing the teachers he appreciated the initiative by Pre-Step in first assisting the university in starting four years B.Ed (Hons) programme and then extending the two years associated degree in education at various colleges in the province.

Dr Khan described professional teaching qualification as a key towards producing best teachers. He said teachers had an integral role in shaping behaviour of students.—APP