NOWSHERA: Two children were killed and 10 others were admitted to hospital in serious condition after they took poisonous tea at Pir Sabaq here on Saturday.

Police sources said that the affected people of one family were rushed to Mardan Medical Complex after they drank poisonous tea. Two children identified as Hamza, 10, and Maryam, 8, were pronounced dead in the hospital.

They said that Dilber Khana, wife of Abdul Qadeer, was preparing tea when a black stone, used locally to make hair colour, fell into the tea. They added that condition of 12 people became serious when they took the tea. The villagers shifted them to the Mardan Medical Complex where two children died.

Two of the affected persons were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, in precarious condition.

Hospital sources said that eight people, including a woman and four children, had been discharged from the hospital.

Nowshera Kalan police station registered the case and started investigation.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami provincial emir Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan visited Darul Uloom-i-Haqqania here on Saturday to enquire after Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq.

Senator Ahmad also met with former MNA Maulana Hamidul Haq, the son of Samiul Haq. Local JUI-S leaders, including Maulana Usama Sami, Maulana Hafiz Manzoor, Alhaj Gul and others were also present on the occasion, sources said.

They said that both the religious parties’ leaders discussed the upcoming general elections and possibility of fielding Maulana Hamidul Haq in the polls.

The sources said that the JI senator appreciated the services of Maulana Samiul Haq and said that he always worked hard for development of the country and protecting Islamic values.

The JUI-S leaders thanked the JI senator for visiting the Darul Uloom-i-Haqqania.

The religious parties’ leaders also discussed issues facing the Muslim Ummah.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2018