Teenager kidnapped

MANSEHRA, March 28: Unidentified men kidnapped the son of a former union councillor and shifted him to unknown location.

Mohammad Hanif while lodging FIR with the Saddar police stated his son Mohammad Tariq, 17, had gone to meet his elder brother in the district jail but didn’t return. He said he came to know that a group of unidentified people picked him from the Khawari adda while he was on way home. Police after lodging FIR initiated search for the recovery of the kidnapped teenager. — Correspondent Peace committee

KOHAT, March 28: The peace committee of hundreds of residents of five villages in the mills area on Monday announced voluntary support to police against street crimes and social evils.

The elders and former nazims of the villages of Tappi, Merozai, Khwaja Abad, Noor Elahi Colony, Miangan Colony and Dhall Behzadi held a meeting with the local police at the police post on Bannu road. They vowed to eliminate drug trafficking, street crimes, kidnappings for ransom and professional gambling dens from their respective areas.

Meanwhile, an old enmity claimed life of a man in Muhammadzai village on Monday.The police said the heirs of the deceased, Lal Badshah, nominated Ali Abbas, Saeed Khan, Imran and Naeem in the FIR for the murder. The assailants escaped after the incident. — Correspondent

Seven outlaws held

LAKKI MARWAT, March 28: Seven alleged criminals were arrested from different areas during a search operation on Monday.

The police backed by personnel of Anti-Terror Squad, Elite Force and APCs launched operation in Takhtikhel, Landiwah, Tajori and Dadiwala areas, an official said.

He said the law-enforcers captured seven outlaws wanted by police in murder, attempted murder and other cases of heinous nature. The police also recovered four AK assault rifles, four hand grenades, two shotguns, a pistol and eight spare magazines filled with rounds.

Meanwhile, police recovered 120kg hashish from hidden places of a truck at a checkpost near Darra Pezu and arrested two drug pushers. — Correspondent

Workers seek loan waiver

PESHAWAR, March 28: National Bank Employees Federation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, has demanded of the government to waive off loans to all the bank employees in the province.

The federation president Ziauddin Akhtar, in a statement on Monday, expressed his resentment that the loans to other people had been waived off but the bank workers had been asked to return the amounts. He said like people of different districts of the militancy hit areas especially those from Malakand Division the bankers also deserved to be exempted from the return of loans as they had also suffered due to terrorism.

The federation leader demanded of the prime minister and the president to waive off their loans. — Bureau Report

Office-bearers elected

UPPER DIR, March 28: Syed Jehangir Shah and Ikram Ullah Shahid of the People’s Lawyers Forum were elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the district bar association in its annual elections on Monday. The election was contested first time on party basis between panels of PLF and Islamic Lawyers Forum (ILF). Syed Jehangir got 27 votes while his rival Hanifullah of ILF secured 16 votes.

Ikram Ullah Shahid of PLF was elected as general secretary, Liaqat Ali Kohistani, vice president, Asad Ullah joint secretary and only one candidate Sohail Mahmood of ILF was elected finance secretary. — Correspondent

PR workers hold demo

PESHAWAR, March 28: Dozens of workers of Pakistan Railways on Monday held a protest rally outside cantonment railways station against the desecration of Holy Quran by US pastor Terry Jones.

The protesters chanting anti-US slogans also set American flag on fire. They were holding banners and placards against the pastor. The demonstrators asked the government to sever diplomatic ties with the US. The angry protesters termed the desecration of Holy Quran as a conspiracy, saying that the blasphemer should be awarded severe punishment. — Bureau Report

Hindus wish team success

MANSEHRA, March 28: The Hindu community of Battagram on Monday prayed for the success of the Pakistan cricket team in the World Cup semi-final against India in Mohali on Wednesday.

“The cricket is a game not the war and leader of Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray should not create hatred between the people of Pakistan and India by uttering unjustified statements,” said Dr Sundus, the ex-minority councillor of the district council, while talking to reporters in Battagram.

Dr Oam Parkash, Dr Sundus, Param Chand, Rajinder Kamar and others told reporters that men, women and children offered prayers at the Battagram temple for the success of the Pakistan. — Correspondent

Energy conservation

SWABI, March 28: Energy conservation is extremely critical for Pakistan considering its demand which is growing rapidly.

This was stated by speakers at a prize distribution ceremony at the end of a three-day ‘THERMOCON competition’ at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology on Monday. The competition was organised by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), GIK chapter. Students from across the country participated in the event. Athar Siddique, president ASHRAE, northern Pakistan chapter, also attended the ceremony.

Students of NED Karachi, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, National University of Science and Technology and Bahauddin Zakariya University, received shields and trophies for their outstanding performance. — Correspondent

Presidential Award

PESHAWAR, March 28: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has approved the nomination of Agriculture University Peshawar, Dr Zahoor Ahmad Swati, for Presidential Award for his meritorious services in the field of technology.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had asked all the universities in the province for nomination of suitable scientists for Presidential Award in the field of technology on the request of ministry of science and technology.

In response, only Prof Dr Zahoor Ahmad Swati of Peshawar Agriculture University was recommended.

Ministry of science and technology recommends Pakistani citizens every year for Presidential Award, who demonstrate beneficial and fruitful research, invention and technical expertise in the best interests of country so that the services of such individuals of high calibre could appropriately be recognised and appreciated.—APP