Tube-wells to be rehabilitated

PESHAWAR, April 18: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided that 279 tube-wells will be rehabilitated according to the demand of the community and all leaking, rusted and aging pipes of the distribution system will be replaced.

Similarly in sanitation sector, the existing sewerage and drainage system in the Municipal Corporation Peshawar area will be rehabilitated and redesigned and it will also include waste water treatment plants.

This was stated by officials of the local government while giving a detailed presentation to Caretaker Minister for LG&RDD Abdur Rauf Khattak on the municipal services programme and preparation of the Peshawar master plan.

Under this programme, the MCP will be provided machinery for the whole corporation areas, including mechanical sweeper, compactors, mini dumpers, suction machine, jetting machine, excavators, landfill site machinery, containers and manual sweepers. The minister asked the authorities to ensure timely completion of all the ongoing activities with the designed quality and quantity. — Bureau Report

PTI leader’s release sought

PESHAWAR, April 18: Reacting to the arrest of an activist of his party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Peshawar district President Yaseen Khalil has warned the government to release him immediately otherwise his party will stage protest.

Addressing media persons at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, PTI leader, who is also a candidate for PK-5 Peshawar, said that PTI Town-II general secretary Asif Hadi had been arrested by police under, what he described, false charges.“He was arrested by the local police for his alleged involvement in violent acts on the ‘Love for the Prophet Day’ (Sept 21, 2012) in the provincial metropolis. These charges are totally baseless and fabricated,” he claimed.

Mr Khalil said that his party colleague was not involved in any kind of violence on that day, adding that he was innocent and should be released immediately. — Bureau Report

Ex-UC nazim, brother held

MANSEHRA, April 18: A former union council nazim, his brother and three accused persons were arrested over alleged kidnapping of a young girl last month.

The Mansehra sessions judge ordered the Shinkiari police to arrest former union nazim Schain Shah Khan, his brother Ayub and other accused Mumtaz, Gul Hassain and Sheikh Fareed after cancelling their pre-arrest bail here on Thursday.

The detainees were accused of kidnapping a young girl Khush Niaz from Rachari area earlier last month after a local court dissolved her marriage with Dildar Ahmad, who was also charged along with the arrested accused.

According to FIR, a group of armed men including former UC nazim Schain Shah Khan, Dildar Ahmad, Mumtaz Ahmad and others barged into the house of the victim in the night of March 25 and kidnapped his sister after injuring his maternal grandmother. — Correspondent

Candidates change loyalties

SWABI, April 18: Two election candidates have changed their loyalties along with their supporters when they were offered tickets by PPP for their respective constituencies, sources say.

Asad Zaman Sher has joined Pakistan People’s Party after being given the party ticket for PK-34 Swabi-IV. He had filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate.

Another candidate Mr Asad, a potential contestant from PK-34 constituency, also switched over to PPP after being denied ticket by JUI-F. Justifying his decision he said: “Now, I will contest election on PPP ticket”.

In a related development, Nural Hassan Jadoon, brother of late Hanif Gul Jadoon, joined Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan. Hanif Gul, who was district vice-president of Awami National Party, was killed during a suicide blast in November 2011 on the occasion Eidul Azha. — Correspondent

Assistance for poor patients

LANDI KOTAL, April 18: Political Agent Khyber Mutahir Zeb has distributed Rs4 million among 18 heart patients.

Sources at Khyber House said that a large number of needy patients had approached the political administration for financial assistance which was approved after proper scrutiny.

The recipients of the monetary assistance included mostly poor and needy women and children suffering from heart diseases. — Correspondent