Land dispute kills four

MUZAFFARABAD, May 28: Four persons from a relatively small tribe were shot dead by their opponents from a major tribe over a land dispute in the Kotli district of Azad Kashmir on Monday.

Police sources said two groups from Gujjar and Jogi tribes were having a feud over a forestland in Potha village of district Kotli. The issue was also under litigation for the last eight or so months in a local lower court.

On Monday, as the Jogi tribe was herding cattle in the disputed land, they came under attack from the Gujjar tribe and in the ensuing clash both sides used batons and axes.

However, the Gujjar tribe resorted to gunshots, killing Amir Afzal, Mohammad Shabbir, Mohammad Idrees and Mohammad Rasheed from Jogi tribe.

Seven others from Jogi tribe sustained injuries and two of them were referred to DHQ Hospital Kotli and Pims Islamabad on account of their critical wounds.

SSP Kotli Haji Ghulam Akbar told Dawn by telephone that police had arrested the principal accused Manzoor Hussain and his accomplices Nazkat Hussain, Zebun Nisa and Makhni Begum. Three more were being hunted and would be nabbed within next 24 hours, he said. — Staff Correspondent

Three die in road accident

ATTOCK, May 28: At least three persons were killed while four were injured in a road accident on Islamabad-Chakri Motorway section near Kari Moorat village in Attock district on Monday.

The driver of a car lost control due to speeding and hit a motorway police vehicle from behind, resulting in the death of three persons, including a child. Two women and two policemen were injured in the accident. They were shifted to a local hospital where the condition of the women was critical.

According to National Highway and Motorway Police, the driver of the car had dozed off which led to the accident. — Correspondent

11 faint from smoke

MURREE, May 28: Eleven employees of General Post Office (GPO) Murree fainted from generator’s smoke and gas leakage on Monday, Rescue 1122 sources have confirmed.

The GPO administration kept the gas-run generator in the wash room. Rescue 1122 teams reached and shifted the affected people to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Murree where one person is serious. — Correspondent

Protest against outages

ISLAMABAD, May 28: A subdivisional officer of Iesco along with his staff remained locked in his office at G-10 for an hour after over 100 people protested outside the building against prolonged power cuts in their area.

The residents of Sector G-10/4, 2 and 1 gathered at Soan Road and blocked it for traffic. Later, they marched towards G-10/4’s Khan Market housing the office of area SDO and cordoned it off. The Iesco officials sought police help which arrived at the spot and tried to disperse the mob.

The protesters were assured by the SDO that he would forward their demands to senior officers after which they dispersed. — Staff Reporter

Yaum-i-Takbeer observed

MURREE, May 28: The lawyers wing of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday observed Yaum-i-Takbeer and organised a function in Judicial Complex here to celebrate the day when Pakistan became nuclear power in 1998.

Asad Iqbal Abbasi general secretary PML-N Lawyers wing, Murree chapter while addressing the function said that on May 28, 1998 the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif made a bold decision to  go nuclear by ignoring pressure from various quarters including the United States.He said in presence of India as nuclear power the explosion by Pakistan was a right decision to balance power in the region.

A large number of lawyers attended the function.

In Fatehjang, too, PML-N held a public meeting to celebrate Yaum-i-Takbeer in which MPA Ch. Sher Ali was the chief guest.

Addressing on the occasion, MPA Ch. Sher Ali said criticised the government for gas and power loadshedding and the prices of POL. He asked the participants to vote for PML (N) in the coming general elections. A large number of people attended the function. — Correspondent