Nine POs held in Lakki

LAKKI MARWAT, Feb 26: Nine notorious proclaimed offenders were arrested during a search operation in different parts of the district on Sunday.

“After receiving information about the presence of outlaws with intention of carrying out criminal activities the DPO Gulzar Ali Khan ordered police to initiate action and ensure arrest of the wanted criminals at all costs,” said an official.

He said police backed by commandos of elite force, anti-terror squad and armoured personnel carrier vehicle conducted the search operation in Paharkhel, Bilandkhel, Khankhel Mandozai, Baistkhel and Naurang localities.

“The law enforcers eliminated the hideouts of criminal gangs and arrested nine dreaded proclaimed absconders,” maintained the official, saying the arrested outlaws were identified as Shams-ur-Rehman, Hasti Khan, Noor Mohammad, Meer Nawaz, Jehangir, Hashmatullah, Wahidullah, Hidayatullah and Abdul Qayyum.“They were wanted in murder, attempted murder and other cases of heinous nature,” said the official. He said illicit weapons and other contrabands were seized from the outlaws. —Correspondent

Torkham road in bad shape

PESHAWAR, Feb 26: Exporters have demanded of the National Highway Authority (NHA) to reconstruct the dilapidated Peshawar-Torkham Highway.

In a press release issued here on Sunday, the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said excessive use of the highway during the past ten years by heavy trucks transporting Nato goods had left the road in ruins.

“Between 800 and 1,000 trucks daily ply on the road and its deteriorated condition has negatively impacted exports to Afghanistan,” said Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, SCCI’s vice-president and a leader of Frontier Customs Agents Group, an organisation of customs clearance agents involved in exports to Afghanistan.

The government, he said earned substantial revenue through commercial items’ exports to Afghanistan, therefore, it should make sure the provision of proper facilities to the business community. He urged the government to ask Nato countries to provide funds for bringing the highway in its proper shape.—Bureau Report

Bilitang to get girls college

KOHAT, Feb 26: Minister for Housing Amjid Khan Afridi has said a girls degree college will be constructed in Bilitang to promote women education in the remote areas astride the Rawalpindi highway.

Addressing a jirga at his house on Sunday the minister also announced Rs11 million for water supply scheme in Nakband which would be completed in one month. Similarly, he said Rs8 million would be spent on the road up to the local graveyard and Rs1 million on the pavement of streets in the Nakband area.

He told the jirga that the Nakband primary girls’ school would be upgraded to middle level in the annual development programme of coming fiscal year. He reiterated the commitment of the government of Awami National Party to spread educational institutions across the province.

He said development schemes worth Rs2 billion were in progress in his constituency.—Correspondent

Thalassaemia patient seeks help

PESHAWAR, Feb 26: A 12-year-old boy, who is suffering from thalassaemia, has appealed to the governor and chief minister to pay for his bone-marrow transplant operation and enable him to pursue his education.

“Doctors say that I can get education only after I undergo bone marrow transplant surgery but the fee for that operation is around Rs2 million, which is out of the reach of my father,” Maaz Khan, a resident of Roghani Mohallah, Sawaldher Mardan, told Dawn.

“I am desperate to get to school as soon as possible,” says Khan, courageously. “I will never give up and would continue to battle the disease”.

Looking extremely frail, the acutely-malnourished teenager says his father was unable to bear the cost of his monthly treatment, let alone making up for bone-marrow transplantation. He also battled the childhood ailment in which the body doesn’t produce adequate amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells and causes severe anaemia.—Bureau Report

Murder dispute settled

TIMERGARA, Feb 26: A murder dispute between rival parties was settled as the murderer was pardoned by the aggrieved party. The reconciliation came about at a jirga held here the other day.

The aggrieved family forgave the killer unconditionally, participants told Dawn.

They said that 16 years ago an exchange of harsh words led to the murder of one Muqadar Khan, son of Gul Khan of Chiekho village in Adenzai at the hands of Aleefur Rehman. Another member of Muqadar Khan’s family got injured in the fire. The accused left the area after the incident and remained proclaimed offender since then.

The jirga initiated efforts to resolve the matter and reached reconciliation between the rivals who are stated to be real cousins.

The rivals embraced each other and promised to live like brothers in future. The killer Aleefur Rahman offered himself for any kind of treatment from his rivals.—Correspondent

Varsity’s foundation day

MARDAN, Feb 26: Dr Ihsan Ali, the vice-chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan (AWKUM) has urged young generation to come forward and explore the world of knowledge, education, science and technology.

Addressing participants of the university’s fourth foundation day ceremony held here on Sunday at the main campus, Mr Ihsan Ali said they were committed to providing quality education to students. He pointed out that academic career of the university had been started three years back but whatever it had achieved in these three years, other universities had got those things in decades.

“In ranking competition of the country’ universities, the AWKUM has now com down from rank 38 to 22 which shows that the university is rapidly progressing,” he added.

He claimed that the university would beat the Peshawar University in the next three to four years, adding the AWKUM had maintained its commitment to inculcate quality education to students. Prizes were distributed by the vice chancellor among best personalities of the year 2011 in different categories.—Correspondent

Power suspension

LANDI KOTAL, Feb 26: The Akkakhel residents have threatened to block Peshawar-Kohat Road in protest against the week-long suspension of electricity.

In a statement president Akkakhel welfare organisation Suhail Khan said that Tribal Areas Electricity Supply Company had disconnected power supply to most parts of Bara in protest against the kidnapping of some of their employees.

He said the week long power suspension had paralysed life in most parts of Bara and people were faced with multiple problems.

He said power suspension had also resulted in shortage of drinking water and most houses, market places and even mosques were without water for the last one week.

He appealed to the governor, Tesco chief and Khyber Agency political administration to help restore electricity in the area and also help in locating the missing Tesco employees.—Correspondent