Motorcyclist shot dead

SWABI, March 5: Unidentified robbers shot dead a motorcyclist when he resisted their attempt to snatch his motorcycle here late on Sunday night.

It has been learnt that Arshad Khan, a resident of the far-flung Mansori region, was on his way home from the Gohati area at night. When he reached Sher Ali Kotay some unidentified robbers, who had blocked the Gohati-Mansori road, stopped him at gunpoint and tried to snatch money and motorcycle from him. But he resisted the attempt at which the robbers shot him dead.

Locals said they heard the gunshots and when they reached the road they found Mr Arshad lying in a pool of blood. They informed the family of the deceased about the incident.

Meanwhile, a student committed suicide by shooting himself dead with a pistol in Baja village.—Correspondent

Students’ anti-Nato protest

SWABI, March 5:  Students of the Postgraduate College Swabi on Monday blocked Swabi-Mardan road against the desecration of holy Quran by the Nato forces.

The students gathered on the premises of the college and marched from there to the Gohati bus stop where they blocked the road for an hour. They were shouting anti-America slogans like “Death to America,” and “Death to its allies”.

The students demanded of the government to sever ties with the US. They said the apology extended by the American President Barrack Obama was not acceptable to them.

The students said those who were involved in the sacrilege of the holy Quran should be tried. Later, they dispersed peacefully.—Correspondent

Wheel-jam in Timergara

TIMERGARA, March 5:  The non-custom paid (NCP) public transport owners on Monday observed complete wheel-jam strike and stopped vehicles plying on Timergara-Batkhela route.

The wheel-jam caused difficulties for commuters especially government employees serving in different offices of Timergara suffered a lot due to non-availability of public transport on local routes. However, the custom-paid vehicles did not join the strike and remained busy in taking passengers to Mardan, Peshawar and Rawalpindi.

The transporters were demanding fresh fare list form the government and district administration. Talking to Dawn transporters’ leaders Liaqat Khan, Muzafar Khan and Sajid Khan complained that on one hand the government was increasing fuel prices every month while on the other ‘adda’ tax had also been raised.

Besides, the transporters said, they were being charged extra money by the bus stand owners, adding they had no option but to observe the strike.—Correspondent

Twenty20 tournament

SWABI, March 5: The District Sports Board (DSB) is starting a Twenty20 cricket tournament at Gohati cricket stadium from today (Tuesday).

Tariq Mohammad, district sports officer and other members of the board, told media persons here on Monday that only the registered teams of the district were allowed to participate in the tournament.

Mr Tariq said the schedule of the tournament was sent to the teams who had confirmed their participation. He said total 16 teams would participate in the tournament.

In reply to a question he said the main objective of the tournament was to make the players familiar with the Twenty20 format and promote cricket in the district while encouraging the youngsters of the district.—Correspondent

Woman appeals for help

PESHAWAR, March 5: A woman Naheed Khan of Pir Piyai has accused relatives of forcing her to vacate her family house.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday the woman said her husband Nadeem and his brother Naseem had a long running dispute over property. But after their death, she said, Naseem’s brother-in-law Gul Nawaz was using illegal tactics to snatch the house from her.

“Gul Nawaz has nothing to do with our family as legally he cannot become heir of the property, but he managed to get verdict from a court to get possession of the house,” she alleged. She appealed to the Peshawar High Court chief justice to take suo motu notice of the matter.—Bureau Report

Enrolment in schools

PESHAWAR, March 5: Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) with the support of Kinder Noehlese, a German donor agency, has started two years project to improve enrolment and retention rate in the schools in flood affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The goal of the project is to enroll 70 per cent of all school age children, including vulnerable children in Charsadda and Nowshera, according to a press released issued here on Monday.

Objectives of the project are to rehabilitate and appropriately equip damaged schools and BHUs and bring a 90 per cent decrease in corporal punishment.

Jahanzeb Khan, regional manager Sparc, said most affected families and vulnerable children would get scholarships, basic education materials and family kits.—Bureau Report

Dir receives snowfall, rain

UPPER DIR, March 5: Dir town received heavy rain and mountains, including Lowari Top, snowfall on Sunday, turning the weather chilly after a lull of few bright days. The rain started late Saturday and continued into Sunday without a pause.

According to Met Office 49mm rain has been recorded in twenty four hours in Dir town.

Heavy snowfall on Lowari Top and villages situation ahead of it interrupted flow of traffic but did not block road. Traffic to Chitral continued to flow as the roughly-constructed Lowari Tunnel remained open for vehicles.

The rain turned weather cold in Dir where prices of firewood recorded a sharp increase as the price of 50kg jumped from Rs300 to Rs380.—Correspondent

JUI-F sees MMA’s revival

NOWSHERA, March 5: The JUI-F claims the defunct Muttahida Majlis-I-Amal will be revived to sweep the next general election.

This was stated by vice chief of JUI-F Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, while addressing a public meeting at Nowshera Kalan on Monday. Former nazim Sher Bahader Khan advocate along with family members, relatives and friends announced to join the JUI-F.

Mr Naseeb claimed the people will soon hear good news in this respect and next government would be formed by the religious parties. He disclosed that JUI would make alliance with other ideological parties in case MMA was not revived.

He criticised the government for bad law and order situation and failing to protect the people. He appealed to people to reject the present ‘corrupt politicians’ and vote to power sincere people.—Correspondent