Two killed in accident

RAWALPINDI, March 18:  Two persons were killed while six others injured when a passenger van crashed into a tractor-trolley on Adiala Road, police said on Sunday.

The accident took place when a van with 15 passengers on board collided with a tractor-trolley from behind while overtaking it leaving two persons, a man and a woman, dead on the spot.

Among the dead was Hira Sheraz, 21, while the male killed in the collision is yet to be identified. — Staff Reporter

Robber arrested

TAXILA, March 18: A robber, who was injured by his accomplices during a robbery incident in Kohsar Colony, was arrested by local police on Sunday.

Sources said three robbers tried to snatch a motorcycle and cash from Arshad Mehmood. On resistance, a robber opened fire on him however, he luckily escaped but one of the robbers, later identified as Nasarullah, received two bullet injuries. His three accomplices escaped from the scene.

On getting information, a police party reached there and shifted the injured robber to the hospital. — Correspondent

JI chief’s address

CHAKWAL, March 18: Supreme Court should take punitive action against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for ridiculing it by not following its orders on the issue of writing a letter to Swiss authorities for re-opening corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Amir Syed Munawar Hassan said this while addressing a public rally in Miani Town, some 30km from here, on Sunday.

“US has a well-planned strategy to separate Balochistan from Pakistan, and work on its sinister designs to create another Bangladesh has started as it wants to keep an eye on Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan by sitting in Balochistan,” he said.

Terming president’s address to the joint session of Parliament a ‘mockery,’ Munawar Hassan said instead of introducing reforms, the president showered praises on prime minister. JI local leader Maulana Abdul Sattar and Malik Mehmood Hussain Makhial also addressed the rally.— Correspondent

Tree cutting deplored

ISLAMABAD, March 18: President National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) has expressed concern over cutting of trees in Margalla Hills National Park and demanded pragmatic steps to safeguard the park.

He said the trees were cut down for the construction of underpasses, flyovers and for other developments and it was another sad side of the picture.

NFEH President Naeem Qureshi said the temperature of the city was rising with the disappearance of trees and its ecology had badly been affected.

He said the importance of trees is not hidden from anyone but the authorities concerned seemed ignorant about the role of trees.

He said a report revealed that Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff was also involved in cutting of the trees besides villagers. He demanded that the CDA should devise a strategy to preserve the existing trees and plant and more saplings. — APP

SSC exams from 20th

ISLAMABAD, March 18: Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) will conduct Secondary School Certificate (SSC) annual examination from March 20.

Roll number slips of all candidates have been dispatched to their institutions and those of private candidates on their addresses given in their admission forms, said a press release.

Any candidate who has not received roll number slip so far may immediately contact Controller of Examinations (Conduct), Director One Window, Deputy Controller of Examinations (SSC Conduct) and Assistant Controller of Examinations (SSC Conduct). —APP

High prices of vegetables

ISLAMABAD, March 18: Prices of fruit and vegetables in the markets of the federal capital and weekly bazaars are on the rise.

Shopkeepers and vendors said they bought fruits and vegetables from wholesale markets at higher rates and therefore they were forced to sell these accordingly.

Several shoppers at weekly bazaars also complained about poor quality of vegetables.

It may be mentioned here that the shopkeepers and vendors at different places are selling fruit and vegetables without displaying rate lists.

The buyers also complained that vendors were violating the rate lists as a number of items particularly fruits were being sold in different markets at exorbitant rates with Rs10 to Rs30 per kg price difference. Vegetable rates are also different in various markets. — APP