Volunteer shot dead in Swat

MINGORA, Dec 18: A member of peace committee was killed and a passerby injured in an attack by unknown miscreants in Charbagh area of Swat valley on Tuesday.

Syed Sardar Alam, member of Swat peace committee, was going home in the evening in Salanda locality of Charbagh tehsil when gunmen opened fire injuring Mr Alam and a passerby identified as Sardar Hussain. Both were shifted to Saidu Sharif hospital, where Sardar Alam succumbed to his injuries.

DCO Swat Gul Afzal Khan said that security had been provided to the volunteer but unfortunately he had sent his guards on leave and was alone at the time of incident.

He said the security forces and police had launched a search operation to nab the culprits. —Correspondent

Kidnappers free EDO

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Dec 18: EDO (health) Dera Ismail Khan Dr Ashiq Salim along with his driver and a medical technician, who were kidnapped on Dec 12 near Bannu, were set free by the kidnappers on Tuesday, official sources calimed.

Dr Ashiq Salim was coming to Dera Ismail Khan from Peshawar in his car along with his driver, a medical technician and district general secretary of paramedical association when unknown armed men had kidnapped them.

However, sources claimed, safe release of the EDO along with others was made possible after hectic efforts by the district administration. —Correspondent

Governor visits Wana

WANA, Dec 18: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Masood Kausar has asked the students to make best use of the available opportunities for acquiring knowledge and build their capacity to take future responsibilities in an honourable way.

The governor said this while addressing the students of Wana Scouts Cadet College during his visit to South Waziristan Agency on Tuesday. He reminded the cadets that knowledge was power and its acquisition was meant to develop the power of mind and heart which was vital to act as ideal leaders of the professions, which they were going to join in their practical lives.

The governor further stressed that being pioneers, they will be called the legends for the coming lots of cadets of the institution and therefore they must work hard and concentrate upon their academic and non-academic pursuits to prove themselves as the real role model for the others. —Correspondent

Imran to address ISF convention

PESHAWAR, Dec 18: Insaf Students Federation (ISF) plans to hold a convention at Malik Tehmash Stadium here on Thursday (Dec20).

The announcement was made by ISF provincial president Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad while speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday.

He said PTI chairman Imran Khan along with other central and provincial leaders of the party would address the convention.

He expressed the hope that around 15,000 students would participate in the event.

Mr Afridi said ISF had already got permission from the city district government for holding the event. The ISF convention, he claimed, will be the first major students gathering in the provincial city. —Bureau Report

10 arrested in Kohat

KOHAT, Dec 18: Police arrested four accused and six proclaimed offenders here on Tuesday and recovered weapons and stolen food items meant for displaced people.

A police official told Dawn that some people were selling the food items at Malak hotel on Bannu Road. A raid was conducted and Mohammad Kaleem, Abdul Hakeem, Adam Khan and Alam Khan were arrested.

Police also seized 96 bags of flour, 15 bags of rice, 233 bags of pulses, 30 gallons of oil and 300 packets of biscuits, which had USAID markings.

Meanwhile, police also arrested six proclaimed offenders from different parts of the district.

The Jungle Khel, Lachi and Shakardarra police arrested five proclaimed offenders during search operations and recovered weapons from them. The Jarma police arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in a murder case and his brother. They were identified as Mujahid and Waheed. —Correspondent

Call to shift taxi stands

LANDI KOTAL, Dec 18: Kukikhel elders have demanded of the local administration to immediately shift all taxi stands out of the Jamrud bazaar and also enhance security of the area.

Malik Faizullah Jan, an elder, told Dawn that his tribe had lost a number of innocent people to acts of terrorism. He said that he had on a number of occasions asked the local administration to move the Zakhakhel and Bara taxi stands from the main Jamrud bazaar and also depute khasadar and levies personnel there.

Similar concerns were voiced by another elder, Malik Israr, who said that Kukikhels were the unfortunate victims of a clash between two militant groups, Lashkar-i-Islam and Tawheedul Islam, who were targeting innocent people in order to settle their scores.

He added that his tribe never supported any militant group but even then they had lost nearly 200 tribesmen. —Correspondent

Compensation demanded

PESHAWAR, Dec 18: Activists of Awami National Party Charsadda held a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road here on Tuesday against the delay in payment of compensation to the families of Shabqadar blast victims.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for early payment of compensation, the protesters were also shouting slogans against the government.

While talking to media persons, ANP activists said that 30 people had been killed and 80 injured in a blast in ANP public meeting at Daulatpura union council on Feb 9, 2008 and government had announced compensation for the victims, but it did not fulfil its commitment.

The government, they recalled, had also announced provision of jobs to relatives of the victims but, they said, no one was recruited. —Bureau Report