Girl killed on road

KOHAT, Dec 30: A teenage girl was killed when a truck knocked her down near Kohat jail on Indus Highway on Friday.

The police said the driver lost control over the truck (TKY-720) near the Kohat jail, running over a 12-year-old girl, Tajka Bibi. She died instantly.

The driver managed to escape while leaving behind the vehicle. The Jarma police impounded the truck. Meanwhile, the political agent of Orakzai Agency distributed prizes among children who took part in the Naat and debate competitions held under the auspices of Uincef in Hangu on Friday.

The function was organised by the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) under the auspices of Unicef among 35 schools for promotion of extra-curricular activities in the tribal area. — Correspondent

Workers seek reinstatement

PESHAWAR, Dec 30: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Veterinary Medical Association has expressed concern over the sacking of hundreds of workers after closure of the mobile veterinary clinic project and demanded reinstatement of the employees.

A meeting of the association was held with its president Dr Habib-ur-Rehman in the chair here on Friday wherein the participants expressed concern over the closure of the project. They said the decision had deprived the poor farmers of the mobile facility.

The participants said the project had been launched to provide services to the poor people at their doorsteps and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister had also commended its performance particularly during the last year’s flash floods.

They demanded of the minister for livestock to reconsider the decision. — Bureau Report

Protest against robberies

MANSEHRA, Dec 30: Armed men made an unsuccessful attempt to rob passenger vehicles at Sarni in the Tanawal area on Thursday night.

A police party headed by SHO Pulrah police station reached the spot after the unidentified armed robbers had fled the area.

The traders observed a complete shutter down strike to protest against the increasing cases of lawlessness in the Tanawal area. They said the people could not dare travel in the area after 5pm.

“Tanawal is once again ruled by the outlaws and people cannot travel in the area after the evening fearing their lives and robberies,” said one of the protesters.

The protesters raised slogans and demanded of the government to launch an operation to eliminate the criminals and outlaws in the area. — Correspondent

Gujar families join JI

TIMERGARA, Dec 30: About 90 families belonging to the Gujar community joined Jamaat-i-Islami at Haya Serai here on Friday.

Dozens of elders of the Gujar community announced the decision during a meeting held at the residence of one Subhanuddin.

Those who joined the JI along with their family members and friends included Amir Zaman, Haji Halimullah, Haji Gul Zada and Haji Gul Khan.

Addressing the meeting, former MNA Maulana Asadullah, former MPA Saeed Gul and president of Al-Khidmat Foundation, Lower Dir, Sahibzada Yaqub Khan termed the entry of Gujar elders a big boost for the party.

They said the party would be further strengthened as the Gujar community had great influence throughout the country. The JI leaders thanked newcomers and assured them of full assistance and support. — Correspondent

Attack on Pesco staff

PESHAWAR, Dec 30: The Board of Directors of Peshawar Electric Supply Company condemned ‘violence and physical assault’ on the company’s employees and destruction of its infrastructure, said a press release on Friday.

BoD strongly condemned the violence and physical assault on Pesco officials by the supporters of deputy speaker in his chamber in the sacred building of the Provincial Assembly.

The Pesco directors took exception to the incident, terming it highhandedness and illegality. The Board members observed that the violence against Pesco officials encouraged a mob at Mathra last Monday to protest against the company and destroy its infrastructure in ‘the presence of government authorities’.

Reviewing the situation in the wake of power outages, the board of directors decided to constitute a meeting with representation from the provincial government to ‘analyse and rationalise’ the loadshedding and energy crisis in the province. —Bureau Report

Child protection

PESHAWAR, Dec 30: Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz on Friday said the government was making efforts for the well-being of the children as they were the hope of a bright future.

She said responsibility also lied with society to play role in proper upbringing of children.

She expressed these views while presiding over a special meeting of Child Protection and Welfare Commission.

The meeting reviewed the progress on the proposals presented during the last meeting of the commission, and on the procedure for appointment of chief protection officer and other staff of the commission.

It discussed ways and means to improve capacity building of the child protection units and institutes already functioning in the province. —APP

Seven held with narcotics

PESHAWAR, Dec 30: The Risalpur police on Friday arrested seven narcotics dealers with huge quantity of narcotics.

The police raided suspected places in the limits of Rashakia and Zando areas and arrested seven drugs dealers. The police recovered 3,020g heroin from Ayaz, 1,050g heroin from Jangraiz, 650g heroin from Wajid, 5kg hashish from Jahangir, 8kg hashish from Mir Aslam, 3kg hashish from Rabnawaz, and 2kg hashish from Sajid. —APP