Graveyard land

TIMERGARA, Nov 7: The people of Jar locality of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and Chief Justice of Pakistan to protect a piece of land donated for graveyard which had allegedly been grabbed by some influentials of the area.

Speaking at a news conference at Timergara Press Club, Habibullah Jan, Noorul Hakim, Juma Khan, Sarwar Khan, Syed Karim and others said that the land had been donated for graveyard by Haji Mohammad Ayub Khan and Abdul Subhan more than a century ago.

They alleged that the assistant political agent Bajaur and local tehsildar were siding with the land grabbers and said that they were building structures on the disputed land with the help of Levies force. They appealed to the chief justice and governor to immediately take notice of the matter so that there was no bloodshed in the area. —Correspondent

Pensioners’ plight

LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 7: The association of all retired gazetted officers and general pensioners held a meeting here on Wednesday to discuss problems being faced by retired employees. Haji Zarwali Khan Marwat presided over the meeting which was attended by pensioners in large number.

The participants expressed concerned over delay in resolving the problems of pensioners and said that despite repeated promises and announcements the government could not implement its plan to simplify the process of payment of monthly pension to the employees.

“The old pensioners have to wait in long queues for hours to receive their pension,” they maintained.

They also expressed concern over the closure of Habib Bank Limited Lakki branch ATM on weekly and national holidays and demanded of the higher authorities concerned to implement the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari regarding making the process of pension payment easy. —Correspondent

PPP workers flay MNA

PESHAWAR, Nov 7: The activists of Pakistan People’s Party belonging to Nowshera district have criticised local MNA Tariq Khattak for what they said neglecting the party workers and inducting his relatives and friends into different committees meant for supervision of uplift schemes.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, a leader of PPP Nowshera, Shamsul Rahman, said the workers were frustrated by the poor performance of the party’s elected representatives, especially the MNA from NA-5. He added that PPP’s ideological jayalas and workers had been ignored and preference was being given to the blue-eyed people, which was creating unrest among the workers.

He said that the committees should be formed in consultation with senior activists, adding that they would also raise voice for allotting party tickets to sincere leaders of the party. —Bureau Report

Teenager shot dead

KHAR, Nov 7: A teenage boy was shot dead allegedly by his uncle here on Wednesday over a land dispute, officials said.

An official of the Levies force told Dawn that Niaz Wali Khan opened fire on his nephew Attaullah, 15, at Khar trade centre, killing him on the spot. The accused escaped the area after the incident.

The locals said that Niaz Wali Khan and his brother Noor Mohammad were running a dispute over the ownership of a piece of land for the last several weeks.

The local administration has arrested five people from both sides and started investigation. —Correspondent

Cricket club set up

TIMERGARA, Nov 7: A cricket club has been set up in Adenzai area of Lower Dir to provide an opportunity to the youth to take part in healthy activities.

President of the club Dr Sherin Yousafzai told journalists here on Wednesday that the Adenzai Cricket Club Warsak has been registered with the Lower Dir Sports Board. According to him, the cricket club will engage 14 players under the age of 18.

“We will arrange sports’ camps and workshops for players so that they get proper training. He said that Wiqarul Mulk had been elected as secretary and Gauhar Ayub as treasurer of the club while a youngster, Hidayatullah Yousafzai, would be the captain and Tariqullah vice-captain. —Correspondent

Gamblers held

LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 7: Police busted a gang of gamblers and arrested 12 people red-handed in Darra Pezu town here on Wednesday.

DPO Mohammad Idrees was informed that some local gamblers and others from neighbouring Tank and D.I. Khan districts had come to Darra Pezu town and they were arranging bets on quail fight near a dry water nullah. A police party of Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan police station headed by SHO Mashal Khan raided the place and arrested 12 gamblers and recovered Rs14,880 stake money and birds. —Correspondent

SP’s killing condemned

PESHAWAR, Nov 7: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barister Masood Kausar has strongly condemned the killing of SP Investigation Peshawar Bilal Haider along with police jawans and civilians in a suicide attack at Qissa Khawani Bazaar here on Wednesday and said that the elements involved in the heinous crime will be brought to book.

In his condolence message, governor described the incident as a worst act of terrorism and said that the elements involved in the inhuman act deserved to be condemned by all. The extremists, he added, in fact did not have any concern to religious and cultural values and norms and their acts could never deter the government from maintaining peace and normalcy.

He prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and courage to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss with patience. He has also wished early recovery to the injured. —Bureau Report

Official goes missing

TANK, Nov 7: An official of South Waziristan political administration went missing here on Wednesday night.

Family sources said that Alla Bagh, the stenographer of South Waziristan political agent, had not returned home in Gul Imam village, some 6km east of district headquarter Tank till late night. They added that Alla Bagh left for the office at political compound in Tank at 7am on Wednesday. They said he hadn’t made any contact with the family members since then.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. It may be recalled that on Oct 16, Osman Kundi, a cousin of National Assembly deputy speaker, was kidnapped from the area. The government had launched a crackdown against three tribes of Tank but he is yet to be recovered. —Correspondent