Three die in roof collapse

UPPER DIR, Jan 1: Three persons were killed and one was injured when roof of a house collapsed in Dir town on the night between Monday and Tuesday.

Local people retrieved three bodies and the injured. The dead were identified as Hussain Khan and his two children. His mother was seriously injured. The mud-stone house was in a shambles. The incident took place when a timber beam broke and the roof of the room they were living in caved in. Two of the three rooms of the house collapsed.

The deceased Hussain was a poor labourer. Rehankot Payeen mohalla was overwhelmed by grief and moving scenes were witnessed when three bodies were lifted from the house. Their Namaz-i-Janaza was offered at Dir stadium.—Correspondent

Dam to be built in Mohmand

PESHAWAR, Jan 1: The Fata Development Authority (FDA) will construct a water reservoir in Mohmand Agency to overcome shortage of water in Ghalanai and other areas.

In this connection, the FDA signed a contract with a private firm here on Tuesday to construct a 105-feet high and 250-feet long axis gravity dam at Gandao. The project will be completed at a cost of Rs449 million by the end of 2014.

The contract was signed by FDA general manager (technical) Mohammad Naseem Golra and managing director of National RCC Works Gohar Ali at a ceremony held at the FDA.

A water treatment plant is also part of the project which will supply water to Ghalanai, Miangono Kalay and Durpa Khel villages. Upon completion the project will serve a population of 21,979. FDA has also identified 37 other dam sites in Mohmand Agency of which six have been recommended for further study.—Bureau Report

LG system and people’s rights

MANSEHRA, Jan 1: Deputy Commissioner Mansehra Syed Zulfiqar Ali has asked government officials to work hard to provide relief to the masses.

Talking to reporters after chairing a meeting of heads of different departments on Tuesday, the DC said he had directed officials to change their attitude and serve people wholeheartedly. Mr Zulfiqar said after the enforcement of the new local government system, responsibilities of the officials had increased.

“The dignity of people should be maintained and civic services which are their basic right should be provided to them without any delay,” said Mr Zulfiqar.

He asked the people to approach him in case of any complaint. “I also appeal to media to create awareness among the people about the new system, which is to protect their rights.”  He said a mechanism had also been evolved to control the price hike and sale of substandard goods.—Correspondent

Polio workers’ security

GHALANAI, Jan 1: Mohmand Agency political agent Dr Amber Ali Khan has said strict security measures have been taken to make the ongoing anti-polio campaign in the agency a success.

Speaking at a meeting held on Tuesday to review arrangements for the polio campaign, the PA said it was their endeavour to administer polio drops to every child of Mohmand Agency. Brig Sajid Ali Raza, agency surgeon Dr Dawood, FSMO Dr Shabir Khan and Dr Razaullah were also present in the meeting.

Talking to reporters, Brigadier Sajid Raza ruled out existence of any no-go area in the agency, saying polio teams had been provided full security.

He said army had been deployed on the Pak-Afghan border areas, adding army, FC and political administration were in touch with the polio teams in far flung areas. “Mohmand tribesmen have warmly welcomed the polio teams in their respective areas,” said Brig Raza.—Correspondent

Teachers seek regularisation

PESHAWAR, Jan 1: Fata contract lecturers have demanded of the government to remove unrest among them by regularising their services.

Talking to reporters at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, the Fata Ad hoc Lecturers Association general secretary Ihsan Dawar said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government planned to introduce a bill in the assembly regularising ad hoc employees of different departments.

Flanked by the association’s office-bearers, Ihsan Dawar demanded of the government to also include ad hoc lecturers hailing from Fata in the proposed bill.

He informed that more than 254 ad hoc lecturers, including 135 male and 119 female teachers, had been appointed in different tribal agencies, whose contracts had been extended for another year. The government should regularise services of existing teachers instead of appointing new staff, he said, adding most ad hoc teachers fulfilled criteria for appointment on permanent basis.—Bureau Report

Demo against loadshedding

PESHAWAR, Jan 1: Tribesmen hailing from Mohmand region on Tuesday held a rally at Sher Shah Suri Road against loadshedding and asked the government to ensure smooth power supply to the consumers.

The rally which was taken procession from the Peshawar Press Club to the Governor House caused traffic jam on the road for about an hour.

PTI leaders Fakhr Alam, Sajid Khan, Naveed Ahmed, Sajjad Khan and Feroz Alam were leading the protesters. The protesters said power supply to different localities of Mohmand Agency was kept suspended for about 20 hours. They said supply was restored only for a few minutes at different times.

They said outages had created water shortage forcing residents to fetch it from distant places. They said the 250 megawatt Warsak Dam had been constructed in the agency but even then the people were deprived of the electricity.—Bureau Report

Explosives seized

BATKHELA, Jan 1: The security forces seized huge quantity of explosives and safety fuse from a godown in busy Dargai bazaar in Malakand protected area. Raids were being made to arrest the owner of the godown.

Talking to reporters at Malakand Fort, military officials said raid was made on a tip-off in which 400kg explosives and 11,000 safety fuse were recovered.

The army officials said the explosives were not for carrying out any sabotage activity rather they were meant for blasting rocks. But, they said, the explosives could have gone into wrong hands. Therefore, the action was taken.—Correspondent

70kg bomb defused

PESHAWAR, Jan 1: Police defused a 70 kilogram bomb in suburbs of Peshawar on Tuesday.

SHO Sarband police station Safdar Khan told Dawn unknown suspected militants had planted the explosive device near the residence of a tribesman Taj Mohammad at Mera Achini locality.

“Police after getting timely information from locals called personnel of Bomb Disposal Unit who successfully defused the device,” the official said. The SHO said the bomb had been packed in a drum, which could have caused huge destruction if exploded. —Bureau Report