MANSEHRA: A cleric was strangled inside his seminary in Hari Mera area of Tanawal area early on Thursday.
“We have begun investigation into this blind murder and learned that someone spent night with Qari Mohammad Khalid, 30, and strangled him before fleeing through the window,” district police officer Sadiq Baloch told reporters after visiting the Madrassa-i-Markaz Islamia.
He said the police had collected forensic evidence from the cleric’s room and quizzed students and staff members, and would ensure the early arrest of the killer(s).
The cleric’s cousin, Shah Badshah, told police that Qari Khalid of Burgabir area in Kolai-Palas district was appointed a teacher to the seminary nine months ago and he had living there since then.
The body was handed over to the family after doctors completed medico-legal formalities at the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital.
SAPLINGS: The forest department has planted 8.4 million of the total 14 million saplings in upper parts of Hazara division, while the plantation of the rest will be completed until June this year.
“We have to plant a total of 14 million saplings in Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Kolai-Palas, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan districts by the end of June. We have completed 60 per cent of the task since last December,” Upper Hazara forest conservator Mohammad Shoaib told reporters here on Thursday.
Mr Shoaib said the department had to plant 24.8 million saplings across Hazara division.
He said 1.27 million saplings would be planted in Torghar district, two million in Battagram and 1.5 million in Agror-Tanawal forest division.
“We have distributed 40 per cent of saplings to peasants in Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan and 0.2 million in other targeted areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Balakot tehsil administration on Thursday removed dozens of illegal CNG cylinders from wagons and pickup vehicles.
Balakot assistant commissioner Nawab Sameer Leghari, who led the crackdown, said the CNG cylinders illegally fitted in cars would also be removed.
Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2020
