Eight injured in explosion

KARAK, Sept 16: Eight people, four women and two children among them, of the same family were injured when some explosive material went off in the tandoor (oven) in a house in the Shnawa Guddikhel area here on Sunday.

Relatives said a mentally retarded man of the family threw something in the tandoor when the women were preparing to bake bread, which exploded.

The injured, including Noor Zaqim Jana (20), Gul Naz Bibi (16), Naz Bibi (18), Qabool Jana (23), Hazi Ghani (3), Numan Saeed (8), Arif Khan (35) and Nasreen Gul were shifted to the Takht-i-Nusrati civil hospital. Six of the injured were relieved from the hospital after the first aid.

Police said that a mentally retarded man of the family, Nasreen Gul, put some explosive material in the tandoor, which went off injuring the women and children.—Correspondent

Land encroached

PARACHINAR, Sept 16: Elders have asked political administration to expel illegal occupants from their land adjacent to Balishkhel and Ibrahimzai.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday after a jirga, Syed Ishaq Ali Shah, Syed Hassan Badshah and Wahab Ali alleged residents of central Kurram had occupied their lands near Sadda town and started illegal construction.

Initially, they said these illegal occupants started construction on property near Balishkhel, adding now they had encroached upon lands close to Ibrahimzai. They said the area was given to Afghan refugees free of cost, but now people of central Kurram had started illegal construction.

They said according to the land settlement record the property belonged to residents of Balishkhel and Ibrahimzai and political administration had already issued notices to illegal occupants.

They gave deadline to the political administration to expel illegal occupants from their lands and demolish structure otherwise they would do so on their own.—Correspondent

Petrol pump owners arrested

GHALANAI, Sept 16: The political administration arrested 11 owners of petrol pumps for overcharging, during checking of petrol prices in Haleemzai tehsil on Sunday.

Political naib tehsildar Shamsul Islam said that the crackdown against petrol profiteers in different areas would continue. He said that the officials had been directed to ensure easy availability of petrol and to keep check on its price.—Correspondent

Woman killed

KOHAT, Sept 16: A woman allegedly killed the first wife of her husband and injured herself in Merobak Banda area of Hangu on Sunday.

The Hangu city police told Dawn that the second wife of Shamak Khan, a tribesman, killed his first wife, Zarsanga, and tried to take her life with the same gun. The accused, Sonaina, was injured and admitted to the district hospital. The police arrested the accused and registered a case against her.—Correspondent

Doctor’s office unsealed

MARDAN, Sept 16: The court of senior civil judge has ordered the district administration to unseal the office of medical superintendent (MS) of district headquarters hospital Mardan. Talking to Dawn here on Sunday, the MS of DHQ hospital Dr Mohammad Tahir Khan said his office was sealed when differences developed between him and the district administration soon after he was transferred by the health department two weeks ago.

He said that he had challenged the illegal act of sealing his office by the district administration in the court of senior civil judge Fida Mohammad Marwat. The judge, however, ordered officials of the district administration to unseal the MS office after hearing arguments of both the parties.

The MS said he had taken his charge again after reopening of his office by the officials of district administration.—Correspondent

Consensus caretaker setup

CHARSADDA, Sept 16: PTI chairman Imran Khan has said all political parties should be consulted before the formation of a caretaker setup to hold fair and free general elections in the country.

He was talking to reporters during a visit to the residence of former federal minister Nisar Mohammad Khan to condole the death of his brother Taj Mohammad Khan here on Sunday.

The PTI chief said the party would participate in the polls only when a consensus caretaker setup is put in place to hold fair and transparent elections. He said the party would award tickets to the honest and sincere leaders to contest the general elections, adding there was no place for corrupt people in the party. Imran Khan said there would be complete chaos in the country in case of rigging in the polls. He said the ruling parties had failed to resolve basic issues facing the people.—Correspondent