NEWS IN BRIEF

Published February 12, 2012

Three killed in gas explosion

NOWSHERA, Feb 12: A man and his three sisters were killed and three others received burn injuries in an explosion due to gas leakage in their house at Kuterpant, Rashaka on Sunday.

An official at the relevant police station said Ziaur Rehman and his three minor sisters identified as Musarat, Aruj and Imama, were killed and three others, including two females, were injured due to explosion.

He said according to initial reports the blast occurred when Tajmeena, wife of Ziaur Rehman, lit a match in the kitchen of her house.

A villager said the father of the killed siblings, Abur Raqeeb, has been working as labourer in nearby market.

He said the injured people were rushed to Mardan Medical Complex where two of them were stated to be in critical condition.—Correspondent

Truckers warn of wheel-jam

PESHAWAR, Feb 12: The All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Goods Transport Owners Federation has accused the personnel of police and customs of forcing the drivers to pay the extortion money and subjecting to violence those refusing to pay bribes.

The transporters gave a two-week deadline to stop the illegal practice otherwise they would announce wheel-jam strike against the police.

The decision was taken at a meeting held with Haji Ashraf Khan Khalil in the chair at Ring Road here on Sunday. Several transporters, including Haji Liaquat Khan, Haji Khyber Khan, Mohammad Noor Ahmadzai and Afghan Transport Union president Haji Abdul Rehman spoke on the occasion. They said the transporters associated with Afghan transit were subjected to torture and violence and added that killing of a driver Tawab Khan at Ring Road by Peshtakhara police was a glaring example of the tyrannies against them.

Haji Ashraf said police had crossed all limits and were not ready to allow any vehicle unless they paid huge bribe to them. “We have the only option to announce a wheel-jam strike,” he warned.—Bureau Report

UoP new block inaugurated

PESHAWAR, Feb 12: Provincial Minister for Higher Education Qazi Mohammad Asad on Sunday inaugurated the newly constructed Sheikh Taimur Academic Block, at the University of Peshawar.

The four-storey building with a basement has been constructed at a cost of Rs250 million consisting of 60 classrooms, a conference hall and a library each for the 14 departments of the university that would be shifted to the new building.

Addressing the gathering of students and faculty on the occasion, the minister termed the construction of the mega project as a major achievement.

He rejected the notion and propaganda done by certain factions that devolving HEC would damage higher education institutions.

The coming NFC award must comprise adequate funds for higher education so that provinces could establish Higher Education Council at the earliest, he added. As long as budget for education was not increased to four per cent of the GDP, he said in the existing budget the problems faced by the education sector couldn’t be solved.—Bureau Report

Nine persons booked

PESHAWAR, Feb 12: The police have registered FIR against nine persons arrested in connection with the Saturday night explosion which left seven persons killed and three injured.Superintendent of Police (rural) Abdul Kalam Khan told Dawn that there was rivalry between the two groups since long over a peace of land in Sra Dargai, Sherkaira on the outskirts of Peshawar.

According to FIR registered with the Mattani police, the complainant Rehmat Shah, son of Said Bacha, told police they had a dispute with their relatives over a peace of land.

Some days back, one Kamran, brought a television from the victim family. The television was returned on Saturday, police said, adding the TV set exploded on Saturday night killing seven persons. The deceased were identified as Said Mueen, Anwar Said, Kaleem, Adnan, Bilal, Hikmat Shah and Said Ghafoor. Three persons sustained injuries, who were under treatment at Lady Reading Hospital.

Police registered FIR against Kamran, Nawab Sher, Nazar Khan, Ishaq, Khalid, Subhan Sher, Ameen Shah, Nazeer Shah and Amir Nawab.—Bureau Report

Fresh snowfall, rain

MINGORA/Timergara, Feb 12: Tourist resorts of Swat valley received heavy snowfall as a fresh cold wave swept through the valley during the past 24 hours.

The lower parts of the valley received intermittent rain, while the hilltops were blanketed by snow.

The snowfall badly affected the routine life as temperatures plummeted to freezing point on Sunday. In Kalam, temperature remained minus ten degrees, while it was minus seven degrees in Malam Jabba.

Army engineers remained busy to remove snow from the roads to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Hilltops in Lower Dir on Sunday wore a white blanket while it rained the whole day in plains.

Due to heavy snowfall in hilly areas at Shahi, Maidan, Samar Bagh and Akhgram, link roads got closed for vehicular traffic while people remained confined to their houses. The bad weather also disrupted business activities and most of the markets in the district were closed.—Dawn Report

Peace and education in Fata

PESHAWAR, Feb 12: Students from North and South Waziristan have demanded ‘true peace’ and ‘meaningful education’ in tribal areas which could be achieved only if the decision-makers show genuine commitment and sincerity.

The students made the demand during a musical night organised by the Waziristan Students Society the other day, according to a press release.

President of Pakistan Society of Criminology and patron-in-chief of Uthmankhel tribe Dr Fasihuddin was the chief guest. He urged the tribal students to divert their energies towards education, acquire modern skills, bridge the gap between tribal population and people of urban areas, persuade their elders to resolve their inter and intra-tribal conflicts, and promote female education.

He advised the students to be the agents of change and demanded of the government to establish at least one good university in each tribal agency and resolve the issue of Fata University.

President of the Waziristan Students Society, Asmatullah Wazir lamented the inadequate facilities of staff, hostels and libraries in the schools and colleges of North and South Waziristan.—Bureau Report

Mother of former judge dies

PESHAWAR, Feb 12: Mother of former judge of the Supreme Court Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan died after protracted illness on Sunday. She was hospitalised at Rawalpindi where she breathed her last. Her Nimaz-i-Janaza will be held at Jinnahabad Commerce College in Abbottabad at 11am. She was also grandmother of former deputy advocate general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Ali Raza.—Bureau Report

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