NEWS IN BRIEF

Published September 25, 2012

Man shot dead

KOHAT, Sept 25: A man was killed and another was injured in a firing incident in Afghan refugees camp No 2 here on Tuesday.

Shahid Gul told the police he was going with his maternal uncle Mohammad Nazeer to bazaar when his brother-in-law opened fire on them. As a result, Nazeer died on the spot and he was injured.

The city police registered the case and were making efforts to arrest the accused, who escaped from the area.

Meanwhile, the Shakardarra police seized 3,200 litres of crude oil being smuggled from Afghanistan into Kohat via Bannu and arrested two accused on Tuesday.

The police stopped two Toyota pickups (DR-4006 and BA-3603) for checking and recovered 3,200 litres of oil from the drums.

Those arrested included Noorullah and Bismillah Jan. The police registered case under petroleum act against the accused. —Correspondent

Stealing of gas meters

PESHAWAR, Sept 25: Unidentified thieves have started stealing gas meters from different residential localities during night.

A resident of Wapda Colony, Michini Gate, Sidiq Haider Qureshi said unknown thieves had taken away gas meters from the area, disconnecting supply to houses of many people.

“The police are also avoiding registration of cases and the people have no option except to start visits of the SNGPL for reinstallation of meters. He demanded thorough inquiry into the matter and strict action against those involved in this crime.

Another consumer, Qazi Inamullah of Shaheen Colony, Bara Gate, also informed that gas meters of 10 houses had been stolen a few days ago but the thieves were yet to be arrested.

“We have complained to the relevant police and also informed the officials of the SNGPL for reinstallation of the meters but to no avail,” he said. —Correspondent

Drug smuggling bid foiled

LANDI KOTAL, Sept 25: Khasadar force on Tuesday foiled yet another attempt to smuggle illegal drugs at a checkpoint in Jamrud.

Assistant political agent Bakhtiar Muhmand told Dawn 130 kilogram of charas and 9 kilogram of fine quality opium was recovered from hidden cavities of a truck, intercepted at Takhta Beg checkpost. The truck driver and his assistant were also arrested.

The khasadar force also recovered 16 kilogram of charas from an abandoned motorcycle on Shah Kas road. Officials said the rider of motorcycle parked his bike at roadside and made good his escape after watching a khasadar approaching party.

APA Bakhtiar Muhmand said drug smugglers were trying to smuggle illegal drugs to Punjab from Bara tehsil.

He said the khasadar force was keeping a close vigil at all the vehicles coming from Bara towards Jamrud via the Shah Kas road. —Correspondent  

Fata’s merger into KP opposed

PESHAWAR, Sept 25: PML-Q central vice-president Ajmal Khan Wazir has rejected the proposal floated by the government regarding merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He expressed these views while talking to media persons after attending a condolence reference arranged at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday to pay tribute to the former PML-Q Fata president Shah Jahan Shah.

Mr Wazir said his party would oppose the idea of merger of Fata into the KP province as the plan was against their interests.

He said the Fata was already facing war-like situation where the people were leading very miserable life and its merger would further deteriorate the overall situation in the country.

“Fata has its own unique locality and rich resources but unfortunately the region was kept deprived of development since creation of the country. The federal government should initiate uplift schemes in the tribal belt,” he demanded. —Bureau Report     

Housing scheme for journalists

MANSEHRA, Sept 25: Commissioner Hazara Khalid Khan Umerzai on Tuesday inaugurated work on a housing society for journalists here.

The district administration has allotted 48 kanals for the housing colony which is named after Mr Umerzai.

Speaking at a ceremony on the occasion, Mr Umerzai said work on the construction of Hazara Expressway had been restarted after the process of land acquisition for the project was completed.

“The work on the highway project, which was suspended in 1993, has been restarted and an amount of Rs1.4 billion paid to landowners,” said Mr Umerzai.

DCO Dr Amber Ali Khan, DPO Sher Akbar Khan, ACO Ali Shahzad, president press club Tahir Shahzad and secretary general Masood Shook and others also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Umerzai while lauded the role of media in helping the government rehabilitate more than two million displaced people. —Correspondent   

Christians protest church attack

PESHAWAR, Sept 25: Members of Christian Community on Tuesday held a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road against the burning of a church in Mardan on Sept 21. They demanded exemplary punishment to those involved in the crime.

Carrying placards and banners, the protesters expressed grave concern over burning of holy book Bible and damaging of the building of church.

“We strongly condemn the unjustified attack on our place of worship,” said Romal Maseh, who led the protesters. He demanded of the federal and provincial governments to take stern action against the people involved in the incident.

He said the leaders of political and religious parties, whose workers staged protest demonstrations, must be held accountable for attacking the church in Mardan.

He demanded inquiry against the administration for negligence and giving a free hand to the protesters to attack the church. —Bureau Report

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