Traders robbed of Rs4m

ISLAMABAD, March 26: Two traders of capital Fruit and Vegetable (Sabzi Mandi) market were shot and inured in a broad daylight robbery of Rs4million on Monday, police said.

General Secretary Amjuman-i-Tajran Fruit and Grain Market Ashfaq Ahmed Abbasi claimed that it was third robbery this month. In the last two robberies Abbasi Trader was looted of Rs550,000 and Muqadas Trader Rs1million.

He said that the police had failed to protect the life and property of the traders and in this regard the traders would meet on Tuesday to devise the protest strategy.

In the fresh incident two traders, Mohammad Riaz Khan and Abdul Jabbar, were on their way to a bank at I-10 Markaz to deposit Rs4million.

They were intercepted by three persons armed with weapons after blocking the road with white Toyota Corolla. They started indiscriminate firing at them when their vehicle came closer to them.

As a result, Khan and Jabbar, sitting in front seat, suffered multiple bullet injuries. The culprits attacked the vehicle when it was stopped and snatched the cash from the victims. Later they managed to escape.

Shortly after getting the information the traders and the police reached the spot and shifted the injured to hospital. The injured were operated upon in the hospital and their condition was stated to be critical.— Staff Reporter

Nauroz festival

ISLAMABAD, March 26: Iranian festival Nauroz got under way at the National Heritage Museum on Monday.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan inaugurated the festival by cutting ribbon. Two-day festival is being organised by the cultural consulate of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran in collaboration with Lok Virsa. — A Reporter

Sports festival at RMC

RAWALPINDI, March 26: A week-long sports festival kicked off at Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) on Monday.

RMC Principal and Allied Hospitals Chief Prof Dr Musadiq Khan inaugurated the sports gala.

RMC Prof Dr Nusrat Ara Majeed, Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Surgical Unit (SU) II Head Prof Dr Mohammad Umer, Pakistan Green Task Force (PGTF) Chairman Dr Jamal Nasir and medical students were also present on the occasion.

RMC Principal Prof Dr Musadiq Khan said annual sports festival was a regular feature, which offered opportunity to the students to show their talent in various sports and other extracurricular activities. Besides cricket, football and athletics, Seerat Conference, English and Urdu debates, mushaira, funfair and variety show will also be held during the gala, he said. — A Reporter

Repair of 13 filtration plants

RAWALPINDI, March 26: Taking serious notice of 13 faulty water filtration plants in the city, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar asked Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and Potohar Town Municipal Administration (PTMA) to repair them immediately.

He was presiding over a high level meeting of officials of Rawal and Potohar towns here. The meeting was informed that total 154 water filtration plants were installed in different parts of the city. However, six plants of Wasa and seven of Potohar Town were out of order and supplying contaminated water.

The DCO asked to repair them immediately and submit the compliance report within a week. He also sought the report of tubewells installed in the district but the concerned authorities failed to provide the exact figures.

He directed to make arrangements to avoid water accumulation around the filtration plants and tubewells to avoid spread of dengue virus in the season.— A Reporter

Robbers’ gangs arrested

ISLAMABAD, March 26: The capital police busted three gangs of robbers and recovered valuables worth Rs3 million, weapons, narcotics from them, a police spokesman said on Monday.

According to details, Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) arrested the eight robbers. During investigation they confessed to commit several robberies. The agency also recovered looted items worth Rs3 million, weapons and mobile phones.

Meanwhile, the Tarnol police arrested a drug peddler and recovered from him 1.25kg hashish. Police also recovered a 30-bore pistol from a man which led to his arrest.

The Sabzi Mandi police also arrested a drug peddler after a recovery of hashish weighing 210gm from him. The Ramna police recovered two bottles of wine from a bootlegger which led to his arrest.

The Shahzad Town police arrested three persons separately for their alleged involvement in robberies and carrying illegal arms and recovered a 30-bore pistol and two bottles of wine from them.

The Industrial Area police recovered stolen valuables worth Rs25,000 from a woman which led to her arrest. Separate cases were registered against them.— Staff Reporter