Protesters block KKH

ABBOTTABAD, Nov 28: Angry protesters blocked on Wednesday the Karakuram Highway for more than two hours against the strike of CNG stations. The protest resulted in long queues of vehicles on both sides of the road near Sethi Masjid.

Later, the protesters ended the blockade after ACO Osama Ahmed and other police officials assured them that efforts would be made to open at least one CNG station on the KKH.

Meanwhile, the district administration along with the SNGPL officials launched a crackdown against the CNG stations and disconnected gas supply to at least 11 outlets in Abbottabad, Havelian and Haripur. CNG association’s local president Kamal Pasha Jadoon termed the action of the district administration revengeful. —Correspondent

Timber smuggling bid foiled

MANSEHRA, Nov 28: The Oghi police seized a large quantity of timber being smuggled to Rawalpindi on Wednesday. A police party led by SHO Oghi Sohail Khan intercepted two vehicles loaded with the timber at Battagram road and seized high quality timber worth over Rs1 million.

Meanwhile, the deputy district officer revenue Balakot fined 22 shopkeepers for overcharging consumers and selling substandard goods.

Khalid Zaman along with personnel of police and food department raided general stores, fruit and vegetable shops and hotels and fined those who were found violating the official price list and selling substandard goods. —Correspondent

Students protest CNG closure

SWABI, Nov 28: Students of the Swabi Postgraduate College on Wednesday blocked the Swabi-Mardan road for an hour to protest closure of CNG stations and subsequent increase in fares by the transporters.

The students gathered on the college premises and marched to Gohati bus stop on Swabi-Mardan road, chanting slogans against the owners of CNG stations.

They alleged the CNG stations owners were responsible for the entire mess because when they were earning millions of rupees but when their profit margin was slightly decreased they closed down their stations which created problems for commuters.

They demanded action against the transporters for overcharging commuters as they had doubled the fare.

The students said due to harsh policy of the public transporters and silence of the district administration, a majority of students remained absent from classes which badly hit their studies. —Correspondent

Development schemes in Bara

LANDI KOTAL, Nov 28: MNA Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said various projects are in progress under the prime minister’s package and annual development programme aimed at providing basic necessities to the people of Bara.

He said all possible resources were being utilised to bring tribal areas at par with the developed areas of the country. He was talking to a delegation of tribesmen from Bara who called on him on Wednesday.

The lawmaker said issues relating to rehabilitation of communal schoolteachers, establishment of Nadra office, issuance of State Bank orders for commercial banks operating in Fata to install ATM machines, nomination of Allama Iqbal Open University examination centre, provision of educational and communicational facilities, supply of clean drinking water and electricity had been resolved on priority basis.

Mr Afridi assured the delegation of bringing a healthy change in the lives of the people of Fata who were facing immense problems since long. —Correspondent

Walk on cleanliness held

TIMERGARA, Nov 28: The students and faculty of Malakand University organised a walk to create awareness among people about cleanliness and hygienic practices here on Wednesday.

The walk was aimed at motivating the students and other people to keep their surroundings clean, according to a press release.

Heads of all teaching departments, faculty members and administrative staff participated in the walk. Dean faculty of sciences Dr Rehmat Ali Khan led the walk.

Participants of the walk collected waste materials from every corner of the university. A group of volunteers was also formed on the occasion led by Dr M Saeed, Dr Imtiaz and Waseem Khan. —Correspondent

‘Militant’ injured in clash

LANDI KOTAL, Nov 28: A suspected militant was critically injured in an exchange of fire with Shalobar peace committee volunteers in Bara on Wednesday.

Sources said that volunteers of the Shalobar peace committee surrounded the house of a suspected militant after receiving information about his presence inside the house. In the exchange of firing the militant was injured. It was reported that his other accomplices managed to escape. The incident took place two days after banned militant group Lashkar-i-Islam had warned the residents of Bara to dissociate themselves from all the peace committees. —Correspondent