Two persons looted

RAWALPINDI, March 25: A man was robbed of cash, passport and other valuables by two gunmen in Satellite Town on Sunday. In another incident, a woman was shot and injured by two robbers who also snatched her grandson’s motorbike in Racecourse area, police sources said.

Najamullah told New Town police that he was on his way home when two motorbike riders intercepted him in Satellite Town and forced him to give up cash. He said the robbers snatched £4,000, Rs1,500, a mobile phone, passport and a UK air-ticket from him and escaped.

Mohammad Faisal, another robbery victim, told Racecourse police that he was about to enter his house with his grandmother when three masked persons came there and pointed pistol at him. He said when his grandmother screamed, a gunman shot and injured her. They then escaped with his motorbike.— Staff Reporter

Sikhs to arrive for Baisakhi

TAXILA, March 25: Over 3,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims would arrive at Gurdwara Punja Sahib Hassanabdal on April 12 in connection with the 313th Besakhi festival.

This was stated by Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi while talking to newsmen here on Sunday as he visited the temple to review arrangement for the boarding and lodging of pilgrims. These pilgrims would arrive through three trains specially decorated by railway authorities from Nankana Sahib on early hours of April 12.

He said more than 6,000 Sikh pilgrims from all over the world including US, Holland, Gulf, UK, Canada, Switzerland and Afghanistan would also arrived here to participate in the festival besides around 3,000 of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims coming from Fata, KP and rural areas of Sindh. — Correspondent

Protesters block road

ATTOCK, March 25: Hundreds of residents staged a protest on Sunday near general bus stand on Attock-Kamra road against unscheduled electricity loadshedding.

People from different localities along with activists of various political and religious parties blocked Attock-Kamra road by burning tyres for about two hours.

The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the government and Iesco authorities for their failure to control the load shedding. They gave vent to their annoyance at Iesco authorities because the electricity was available only for a few hours and rest of time they had to bear the brunt of loadshedding.

Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully on the assurance of the officials of local administration that their concerns would be taken up with Iesco authorities. However, they warned if the situation did not improve, they would again block the road.

Meanwhile, residents of Gujar Khan expressed concern over prolonged power outages and rising crimes in and around the city.

They said unannounced electricity loadshedding had badly affected business as well as routine life.

They were of the view that tailors, welders, barbers, movie makers; auto mechanics, furniture makers, radio mechanics and others had become almost jobless as they were getting only two to three hours of electricity during the day. — Correspondent