Demo against forest cutting

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: Residents of Dumail valley of Chitral on Monday staged a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road against illegal cutting of forests.

Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands, the members of Dumail Welfare Society (DWS) appealed to chief justice Peshawar High Court to take suo motu action against timber mafia.

Speaking on the occasion they said illegal permits were issued to timber mafia, which was denuding the valley while the forest department did not take action in this regard.

They said a delegation of DWS had met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for forest and chief conservator and informed them about the illegal cutting of forest in the valley. The minister, they maintained, had issued directives to the concerned authorities for action against the practice but owing to lack of interest and ignorance of the officers of district Chitral the cutting was continuing.—Bureau Report

Hashish, liquor seized

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: Police arrested three alleged smugglers and seized hashish and liquor in two raids here on Monday.

A police spokesman said on a tip-off the police stopped a car (KH-476) at Phase-6 Hayatabad and recovered 50 kilogram hashish from it. An alleged smuggler who identified himself as Malang Shah of Bara Khyber Agency was arrested.

In another action police took a truck (J7-155) into custody at Ring Road in limits of Peshtakhara police station and recovered 2,500 cans of liquor from it. The police also arrested two accused Aslam and Ayaz of Sikandar Khan Ghari. They told police the hashish and liquor had been transported from the tribal regions and were destined for different parts of the country. Police registered cases against the accused.—Bureau Report

APC termed a drama

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: PPP-S provincial president Sikandar Hayat Sherpao has described the all parties conference, convened by ANP to solve power crisis, a drama and said masses could not be deceived by holding such conferences.

Speaking to party delegations from various districts here on Monday, he said the conference was destined to fail as it was an election ploy that further tarnished the image of the government. “Even the government was sure that APC would bring no positive results,” he said.

The PPP-S leader justified the opposition’s boycott from APC and said opposition attended such meetings in past as well but the government never implemented its suggestions.

“Now the elections are near which is why the government wanted to hide its incompetence by convening such meetings,” he said. He lashed out at the provincial government for compromising on resources of the province.—Bureau Report

One-wheeling banned

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: The government has cautioned police, divisional commissioners and DPOs across the province to take all preemptive measures to discourage firing in the air and one-wheeling by motorcyclists on the eve of Independence Day (Aug 14) and on sighting of Shawwal (Eid) moon.

A statement issued from home and tribal affairs department here on Monday directed the officials concerned to exercise the power under section 144 of CrPC. This menace should be curbed as such activities are also noticed on certain occasions both in rural and urban areas like on the occasions of births of sons, marriage ceremonies and winning of international sports matches by Pakistan. The purpose behind this action was to ensure safety to life and property of the people which was a primary responsibility of the government under the constitution of Pakistan.—Bureau Report

Man killed on road

KOHAT, Aug 13: A man was killed and two women injured in a road accident near Ustarzai on Monday.

A pick-up van (APR-2012) loaded with passengers was going to Lodhi Khel area of Kohat when it collided with a Peshawar-bound passenger coach (T-1312), which was coming from Hangu district. As a result a young man, Suleman, resident of Lodhi Khel, died on the spot while two women were injured and hospitalised. The Ustarzai police impounded the vehicles and arrested the drivers.

Meanwhile, a house was partially damaged when an improvised explosive device went off in Kandao Kalay area in Hangu city on Monday.

The Hangu city police said the bomb had been planted on the road which exploded with a bang, damaging boundary wall of a house. The bomb disposal squad said the explosion was caused by a small improvised device to cause panic.—Correspondent

‘Extortionist’ arrested

MARDAN, Aug 13: Police have arrested a man allegedly involved in a plot to extort Rs10 million from his employer in the Hoti area.

DSP city Khalid Naseem Khan and Amjid Khan, SHO Hoti police station, while speaking at a press conference here on Monday said the accused identified as Ashraf Khan alias Ashrafy was allegedly found involved in a plot to extort Rs10 million from his employer Saifullah Khan, a professor of the Beaconhouse Public School and College Mardan.

They said professor Saifullah Khan had registered FIR against unknown person when he received several unanimous phone calls and letters for the last couple of weeks in which the extortionists threatened him to provide them money otherwise they would kidnap his children.

After investigation, they said, Saifullah Khan’s home servant known as Ashrafy was found part of the gang.—Correspondent

Juvenile offender gets bail

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: A local court on Monday granted bail to a juvenile offender charged with drug pushing as the prosecution witnesses did not turn up after repeated notices.

The court of additional district and sessions judge, Jehangir Khan, in his capacity as juvenile court, observed that the applicant was entitled to be set free on bail. The court directed the applicant to furnish two sureties of Rs200,000 each.

Advocate Nasrun Minallah appeared for the applicant and stated he was allegedly arrested on October 10, 2011, while driving a car. He added the police claimed they had recovered 50kg of charas from the car.

Mr Minallah argued that the medical examination report of his applicant had proved he was below 18. He added under the law when a juvenile offender could be set free on probation after his conviction then why he could not be set free on bail.—Bureau Report

Ramazan package

PESHAWAR, Aug 13: Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Islamabad in collaboration with UNHCR distributed a Ramazan food package among internally displaced persons in Togh Sarai Camp, Hangu on Monday.

A press release said the food package contained 20kg wheat flour bag. All 1,160 families residing in the camp received food package as part of the UAE Red Crescent Society’s Zakat-Al-Fitr initiative. These IDPs had been displaced from conflict hit areas of Orakzai Agency.

The press release said the distribution had been carried out under the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE.—Bureau Report