Girl drowns in well

TIMERGARA, Sept 6: A girl died while her sister was critically injured when they fell into a deep well in Ali Sher Samar Bagh village here, residents told Dawn on Tuesday.

They said eight-year-old Rehana and her 12-year-old sister had gone to the well to fetch water on Monday. They accidentally fell into the well. Other children present on the occasion informed locals who rushed to the well.

The villagers brought out the girls from the well and shifted them to Samar Bagh civil hospital where Rehana died while the other girl was referred to the DHQ hospital Timergara. —Correspondent

Man shot dead

MINGORA, Sept 6: A man was killed and his friend was injured when their rivals opened indiscriminate fire on them at the crowded Bahrain bazaar.

Two persons identified as Hazrat Syed and Gul Zarin of Athror, Kalam, were attacked by their rivals in Bahrain bazaar. As a result Hazrat Syed was killed on the spot while Gul Zarin sustained wounds. He was taken to Saidu Sharif hospital.

The local people caught hold of two of the attackers identified as Hujjat Khan and Abdullah Jan and handed them over to police. However, four of the assailants managed to escape after the incident.

The motive behind the killing was sated to be an old enmity. The Bahrain police registered FIR and started investigation. —Correspondent

Anti-polio drive

KOHAT, Sept 6: The DCO has urged ulema to extend cooperation to medical teams in pursuing parents to let their children be administered anti-polio drops to eradicate this crippling disease from the society.

The DCO Shahidullah Khan made the appeal while chairing a meeting here on Tuesday. District Khateeb of Kohat Maulana Shafiullah, EDO, health, Shad Ali Khattak, social welfare officer Shazai Khattak, Dr Kaleem, assistant political agent, FR Kohat, Fakharuddin and others also attended the meeting.

The DCO was informed that 157,000 children, including Afghan refugees, would be given polio drops in the three-day anti-polio campaign starting from September 19 in Kohat and its frontier region.

He warned that anybody found guilty of skipping any area would be taken to task. —Correspondent

Compensation sought

PESHAWAR, Sept 6: The residents of Chitral on Tuesday held a protest demonstration here against the attack on security checkposts in their district by Afghan miscreants and demanded compensation for the victims’ families.

The protesters, including children belonging to Arandu and Domail villages, were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the terrorists.

The protesters said the attack by the Afghan militants was carried out as the Chitral administration had made no precautionary measures for protection of the area despite tension on the border.

They said the area was still insecure and government should take immediate steps for foolproof security of the people. They also demanded of the government to reconstruct all the bridges which had been destroyed as result of the attacks. —Bureau Report

Defence Day observed

PESHAWAR, Sept 6: The Defence Day was observed with traditional fervour in all cantonments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said a press release.

Inter Services Public Relations said a special floral wreath lying ceremony was held at the grave of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) at his native town in Swabi to pay homage to courageous hero of Kargil War.

Brigadier Syed Jamal Haider laid floral wreath and offered Fateha. A smartly turned out contingent of Sindh Regiment presented salute to the great warrior officer.

The day-long celebration started with Quran Khawani and special prayers were offered for the preservation, integrity, sovereignty and solidarity of the country in the unit mosques. The day dawned with national flag hoisting on all formation headquarters, units and installations. —Bureau Report

SBP’s criteria met

PESHAWAR, Sept 6: The Bank of Khyber (BoK) has complied with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) condition of maintaining minimum capital requirement following a cash injection of Rs3.224 billion by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

According to a press release issued here on Tuesday, the BoK has successfully concluded its second Right Issue amounting to Rs3.224 billion and has attained the milestone of becoming SBP’s MCR compliant bank for the year 2011.

The BoK’s paid-up capital, after the Right Issue, stands at Rs8.228 billion. The Right Shares were traded on the Karachi Stock Exchange during the trading period where as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, being the major shareholder, has subscribed its right entitlement as well as taken up the unsubscribed portion of the Right Issue. —Bureau Report

Heavy weapons seized

PESHAWAR, Sept 6: Police claimed on Tuesday to have foiled a sabotage attempt, seized heavy weapons and arrested three alleged smugglers.

A police official said during the routine check an Alto Suzuki (LXW-999) was signaled and during search weapons, including four hand grenades, four rocket launchers and four rocket shells, were recovered from the vehicle’s secret cavities.

The alleged smugglers were identified as Waqas Ahmed alias Mohammad, Hassan Wali alias Faqir of Naguman Charsadda and Imran of Patang Chowk Peshawar.

Another official said the accused were under interrogation and it was yet to be ascertained as to what their target was. However, he said they belonged to a militant group. —Bureau Report

JI’s diatribe against govt

TIMERGARA, Sept 6: Former senior provincial minister and vice-chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Sirajul Haq on Tuesday said the government had failed to deliver.

Addressing a public gathering at Shalkandai Qilla Munda he said the rulers had failed to resolve public grievances as the country had been facing internal and external challenges.

Mr Haq said the ANP-led provincial government had lost writ in the province and law and order was being maintained by the security forces. He claimed the people of the province wanted change in the government. The JI leader claimed his party would again come into power after the next general elections.

On the occasion 25 families announced to quit the ANP and joined the JI. The JI Munda chief Humayun Khan, Maulana Mohammad Gulab and Kalimullah also addressed the gathering. —Correspondent