Landowners seek compensation

KARAK, March 20: The residents of Tordhand area of Karak have demanded of the government to pay compensation to them for the land which had been acquired for establishing a polytechnic college and industrial estate.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the elders regretted that the government did not pay single penny to them for their precious land. The government also acquired land for constructing police lines in the area, they said.

Meanwhile, former nazim Banda Duad Shah tehsil Hameedullah Khattak has demanded utilisation of oil and gas development cess on provision of basic needs to the people of the area.

Talking to journalists he said the cess had exceeded Rs15 million. —Correspondent

Miseries of fleeing IDPs

PESHAWAR, March 20: PPP-S chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has expressed concern over the fresh dislocation of thousands of people from Bara and asked the government to take practical steps for alleviating problems of the people.

The shifting of 8,000 people from Bara on a single day, he said was a matter of grave concern and if the government did not pay prompt and serious attention towards the issue the situation might take another serious turn, he said in a statement here on Tuesday.

Most of the people, he said were in search of food and shelter as they belonged to extremely poor families and unable to afford the expenses pertaining to rents of buildings and purchasing food and other items. —Bureau Report

Rescue centre at KTH

PESHAWAR, March 20: Rescue Service 1122 opened a branch at the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) to facilitate the masses and help them in case of any emergency.

The opening ceremony of the Rescue 1122, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, station 66 (Peshawar) was held at the KTH on Tuesday wherein Commissioner Peshawar Division Tariq Jamil was the chief guest.

Mr Jamil appreciated the efforts of DG Rescue 1122, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and his team for starting the noble service. DG Rescue 1122 Dr Shams-ul-Haq highlighted the services provided by Rescue 1122 and the need of opening a rescue station at the location like the KTH. —Bureau Report

US envoy calls on governor

PESHAWAR, March 20: The US Ambassador in Pakistan Cameron Munter called on Governor Barrister Masood Kausar at Governor House on Tuesday.

Mr Munter, who was accompanied by US Consul General in Peshawar, Dr Marie Richards, remained with the governor for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest with special reference to the situation in the region.

The governor also briefed the delegation about the security situation in the province and Fata and highlighted certain factors which caused occurrence of incidents of terrorism and aggravated law and order situation. —Bureau Report

Police, FC personnel awarded

PESHAWAR, March 20: Personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and police, who repulsed an attack at Mattani checkpost a few days ago, were awarded cash prizes and commendation certificates on Tuesday.

The awards were distributed in a ceremony held at central police office on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, the Provincial Police Officer Mohammad Akbar Khan Hoti said security forces were bravely fighting the war against terror and no efforts would be spared for their encouragement and welfare. The police chief said the jawans of FC and police who repulsed the well-planned attack were precious asset of the country. —Bureau Report

Militant remanded

MINGORA, March 20: An alleged member of Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat Fazal Hadi, stated to be a central character in the famous flogging incident of a woman in Swat in 2009, was given into the custody of Charbagh police on seven-day remand on Tuesday.

The judge of anti-terrorism court sent the accused on seven days physical remand after the police presented him before the court here on Tuesday.

The SHO Charbagh police station had arrested the accused in a raid on his house in Asbarn village on the complaint of the girl.

He had just returned from Sindh province, where he had gone into hiding after the final stage of military operation started in Swat in 2009.

Fazal Hadi, however, denied flogging the girl. However, he said on Taliban directives he became a witness that the girl had illegal relation with a local doctor. —Correspondent

Peace in Fata

PESHAWAR, March 20: Governor Masood Kausar has said those challenging the writ of the government and indulging in anti-state activities will not be spared. He said the people and their elected representative should support the government’s efforts for lasting peace in the Fata.

He said despite immense difficulties, the situation in Fata had been ‘brought under control’. “However, we are focusing more on combating terrorism so that the problems of tribal people are mitigated,” the governor said while talking to a delegation of tribal parliamentarians, including Hamidullah Jan Afridi, Zafar Beg Bhittani, Bilal Rahman, Kamran Khan and Senator Hilal Rehman at the Governor House on Tuesday. —Bureau Report

Protest against police

TIMERGARA, March 20: Traders of Talash on Tuesday blocked the Timergara-Peshawar road for some time against local police for violence on a shopkeeper.

Eyewitnesses said policemen baton charged a shopkeeper of the main Ziarat Talash bazaar. The traders on the call of Anjuman Tajaran Talash closed their shops and came on the road in protest against local police.

They also blocked the road for some time. Addressing the protesting traders, Fazal Qadir, president of the traders’ body, accused local police of misbehaving with traders and demanded of the authorities to bring the culprit to book.

Later, police officers held talks with protesters and on their assurance that action would be taken against the guilty policemen the traders ended their protest. —Correspondent

Health workers’ sit-in

PESHAWAR, March 20: The protesting health workers have declined to take part in the three days anti-polio vaccination unless their demands are met. They announced to observe a sit-in outside parliament on March 26.

The workers, including LHWs, , FPOs and LHSs, who had set up a protest camp along the Sher Shah Suri Road, displayed banners and placards inscribed with their demands for reinstatement of the sacked employees and payment of the withheld salaries.

They said majority of LHWs were doing duties on contractual basis for the past many years and despite promises the successive governments did not regularise their services. She said those who raised voice for their rights were sacked. —Bureau Report