NEWS IN BRIEF

Published June 23, 2013

Three shot dead for honour

NOWSHERA, June 22: A man shot dead his wife, brother and teenaged son at Khesgi area here on Saturday and then escaped from the scene, police said.

An official of Risalpur police station said the accused opened fire on his wife and brother after seeing them in objectionable condition. The official said a teenaged son of the accused was also killed in the firing.

However, the father of the accused told the police that his son took the extreme step over some domestic issue.

The bodies were shifted to Nowshera district headquarters hospital for autopsy.

The police registered the case and started search to arrest the accused. —Correspondent

KPCCI hails SC decision

PESHAWAR, June 22: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr Mohammad Yousuf has hailed Supreme Court’s decision for declaring the one per cent increase in GST null and void.

The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the collection of GST even before parliament passed the Finance Bill 2013.

In a statement here on Saturday, Dr Yousuf said the KPCCI had already opposed the increase in GST from 16 to 17 per cent by raising voice against it through media.

“It is ironic that the government had started collecting the sales tax on different items, including petroleum products, CNG, medicines, electronic items, cement and other daily use commodities from June 13 even before approval of the budget by the parliament which led to unprecedented inflation.

The chamber leader hoped that the SC’s decision would help redress the grievances of the masses, including business community. —Bureau Report

Outages cause water shortage

GHALANAI, June 22: Hours long loadshedding has created acute shortage of water in Ghalanai and adjoining areas forcing local residents to purchase the commodity.

Tribesmen said they had been experiencing power outages of up to 20 hours.

“We get power for only 48 hours in a week,” complained Taj Ali, a local resident.

The tribesmen threatened protest demonstrations if the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor didn’t take action against the Tesco management for conducting excessive power loadshedding.When contacted, Ghalanai grid station officials said they had orders to carry out loadshedding except for five to six hours daily and that too with intervals.

An official at the grid station said Tesco had given connections to marble and steel factories in the agency due to which masses were suffering. He said power supply to these factories would be disconnected if they didn’t pay bills regularly. —Correspondent

Fata people reject taxes

PESHAWAR, June 22: Residents of Fata on Saturday held a protest demonstration here on Saturday against imposition of taxes in the region.

The protesters had gathered outside the press club holding banners and placards inscribed with anti-government slogans.

Talking to reporters Haji Iqbal Afridi, a PTI leader, said people across Fata would protest if the taxes were not withdrawn.

“Fata people are already suffering as they have been forced to live in tents after being driven out of their homes. Now, they are being asked to pay taxes,” said Mr Afridi.

“The government should facilitate the people in their rehabilitation and not bring further misery to them,” he said.

He said if tribesmen take to streets in protest against the taxes the entire responsibility will rest with the federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan.

Other tribal elders also opposed the government’s plan to enforce taxes in Fata. —Bureau Report

Promoting tourism in Swat

MINGORA, June 22: Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Khalid Rabbani said on Saturday that the Swat summer festival was being held to promote tourism and economic activities in the militancy wrecked region.

Addressing a function at Maho Dhand Lake, he said Swat had remained a centre of tourism in the past and that the army was trying to restore the valley’s past glory.

He said the people coming to Swat from across the country for the summer festival would boost the economic activity. “With the promotion of tourism, the local people will become economically sound,” said Mr Rabbani. He said the army would organise such functions in future as well.

The tourism department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should also hold such events for promotion of tourism in Swat, he added.

Earlier, the corps commander distributed shields and certificates among the organisers of various events. —Correspondent

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