Girl commits suicide

RAWALPINDI, June 20:  A girl committed suicide by taking poisonous pills apparently for her poor performance in her third year exam in Morgah on Wednesday, police said.

Aysha Munawar, a resident of Army Officer’s Colony, was a student of BA. Quoting her brother, the police said after her condition deteriorated on Tuesday morning, she was shifted to District Headquarters Hospital.

Sub-Inspector Rehan, who was heading the investigation in the suicide case, said during treatment in the hospital she regained conscious for some time on Wednesday and told her brother, Rizwan Azeem, that she was in distress after failing to do well in her exams.

He said later her condition worsened and she died in the emergency ward of the hospital.—Staff Reporter

One killed in road accident

CHAKWAL, June 20: A man was killed and three others sustained serious injuries in a road accident on motorway near Kallar Kahar Interchange on Wednesday.

Sources said a bus was heading towards Rawalpindi from Bahawalpur when it rammed into a trailer. Mohammad Khan, a resident of Jhang, died on the spot while three persons, including a woman, were injured. The injured, Fakhar Abbas, Narjis Fatima and Arsalan Ahmad, were taken to DHQ Hospital.

According to the police, the bus driver, Mohammad Naeem, had fallen asleep while driving. He managed to escape after the accident. — Correspondent

Ex-armyman’s house looted

RAWALPINDI, June 20: An ex-army officer’s house in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase I was ransacked by four robbers who made off with prize bonds, foreign currency and gold jewellery, police said on Tuesday.Javaid Iqbal, a retired colonel, said in his complaint that an unidentified person rang the doorbell of his house.

When he opened the door, he found four unidentified persons standing outside who forced their way into the house and pulled out their guns.

The gunmen held the inmates hostage and started searching the house. They then escaped with Rs550,000 cash, prize bonds worth Rs900,000 22,000 dirhams (UAE currency) and gold jewellery weighing 22 tolas.  The value of the looted jewellery was estimated to be more than Rs1.2 million. — Staff Reporter

Political parties cautioned

ATTOCK, June 20:  Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here on Wednesday called upon all political parties to exercise prudence as the country was passing through a crucial phase.

This he said while talking to local mediapersons during a visit to the city to inquire after the health of Haji Gul Mohammad, a close friend of his late father.

Maulana Fazal added: “We should work collectively to strengthen the country’s political system by realising the prevailing situation.”

In reply to a question, he said his party was keeping a close eye on the political situation after the departure of Yousuf Raza Gilani.  He said JUI was fully prepared for the upcoming general elections and its leadership was in contact with the party workers and activists. —Our Correspondent

Sikh pilgrims due on Saturday

TAXILA, June 20: Around 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims will reach Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Hassanabdal, on Saturday.

These Indian devotees are on a 10-day pilgrimage visit to Pakistan in connection to 173rd death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who was ruler of Punjab.

Pilgirms from various parts of the world are also expected to participate in the religious ceremony.

Deputy Secretary Shrines Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Syed Faraz Abbas, while talking to reporters here on Wednesday, said the ETPB with the assistance of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee had made elaborate arrangements to ensure provision of maximum facilities to the Sikh pilgrims.

He said ETPB would provide free of cost buses to the Sikh pilgrims from various railway stations to Gurdwaras and vice versa. He said 48 CCTVs had been installed inside the Gurdwara.—Correspondent

Water shortage in Murree

MURREE, June 20: Hoteliers, traders and locals on Wednesday protested shortage of water at the hill station as many areas have not been supplied the commodity for more than a week.

The protesters after marching through the Mall gathered outside the office of the Assistant Commissioner Murree and shouted slogans. Some participants of the rally told Dawn that water was being supplied to VVIPs uninterrupted while ordinary man was deprived of the facility.

They demanded the authorities concerned to withdraw ban on the entry of private water tankers in the city. —Correspondent