MMA revival claim rejected

KARAK, Nov 6: Central deputy general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-S Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz has criticised the JUI-F for ‘misleading religious scholars’ by claiming that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had been restored.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said that the JUI-F leadership was trying to use MMA as a ladder to reach the power corridors. “The MMA has not been restored as yet,” he said, adding that the JUI-F was a hurdle in the way of the revival of religious parties’ alliance and not the Jamaat-i-Islami.

The former MNA from Karak said the JUI-F was bringing forward capitalists instead of ulema to parliamentary politics.

He said that it was the reason that today secular and capitalist individuals were being imposed on the ulema. —Correspondent

JUI to hold car rally

PESHAWAR, Nov 6: In order to express its anger over the anti-Islam movie and motivate the UN for proper lawmaking, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F will organise a ‘Tahafuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat’ car rally in Peshawar on November 15.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, former provincial minister for information Asif Iqbal Daudzai said Muslims held all the prophets in high esteem and wanted law at international level to bar anyone from indulging in blasphemous acts against any prophet.

“We will continue protest rallies, demonstrations and public meetings unless punishment is awarded to the movie producer and laws made to this effect,” he warned.

He said efforts were made to bury the issue regarding the blasphemous film by an American citizen but the JUI-F workers would not sit silent and continue protests to force the government to raise its voice at international level and ensure an end to such acts. —Bureau Report

Muharram security plan

LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 6: The district police on Tuesday reviewed arrangements to maintain peace and harmony during Muharram.

Speaking at a meeting, DPO Mohammad Idrees Khan said foolproof measures would be adopted to provide security to mourners during Muharram processions and maintain peace and harmony in the district.

Besides district khateeb Maulana Abdul Wahab, the meeting was also attended by elders of Sunni and Shia sects, members of local peace committee and others.

The station house officers and other subordinate police officials were directed to keep a vigil on movement of anti-social elements and suspects in their respective areas.

Meanwhile, police claimed arresting two men, Attiqur Rehman and Shamsur Rehman, and seizing narcotics and weapons from a house in Mughal Manjiwala locality on Tuesday.

The accused were packing hashish in small packets for selling purposes.

The police also recovered a repeater gun, 14 pistols, spare magazines, live rounds and 1,200 gram hashish. —Correspondent

Help against militants extended

GHALANAI, Nov 6: A jirga of Mohmand tribesmen on Tuesday assured full cooperation to the security forces and political administration against militants in the area.

A large number of elders from different areas of Haleemzai, Safi, Tarakzai, Ambar, Pandiali, Khewezai and Baizai attended the jirga held at the headquarters of Mohmand Rifles.

The participants, including MNA Malik Bilal Rehman, Haleemzai peace committee chief Malik Mohammad Ali Haleemzai, Baizai peace committee chief Malik Sultan Koda Khel, Safi peace committee chief Malik Sobedar Safi, Ambar peace committee chief Malik Sahab Khan and others assured that the tribesmen would support the security forces to eliminate militants from the agency.

Addressing the jirga Commandant Mohmand Rifles Col Mushtaq Hussain, PA Mohmand Adi Siddiq and APA Ghallanai Jamshed Khan urged the tribesmen to fulfill their collective responsibility in their respective areas and keep watch on the activities of militants in the region. —Correspondent

Changes annoy PPP workers

ABBOTTABAD, Nov 6: Old workers of Pakistan People’s Party are reluctant to accept changes in PPP Hazara division.

A seasoned worker on condition of anonymity said the decisions taken by the central and provincial leadership will damage the party’s interest in Abbottabad and other parts of Hazara.

“The old workers kept themselves aloof from the recent visit of party’s provincial chief Anwar Saifullah Khan to Abbottabad,” he said.

Sources said some diehard workers would either contest the coming elections as independent candidates or join other political parties dealing a serious blow to PPP in Hazara.

They said some prominent and active workers remained absent from the press conference of the newly appointed divisional president and district president of the party. The younger lot is more annoyed at the changes as the party leadership did not take them into confidence regarding the recent decisions, the party sources said. —Correspondent

DPC meeting convened

NOWSHERA, Nov 6: Chairman of Defa-i-Pakistan Council Maulana Samiul Haq has convened a meeting of the leaders of allied parties on November 12.

In a press release issued here on Tuesday, Maulana Samiul Haq said that the meeting would be held at the house of Jamaat-i-Islami leader Mian Mohammad Aslam Khan in Islamabad. —Correspondent

Pesco recovers Rs3.7 million

PESHAWAR, Nov 6: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company has recovered Rs3.7 million from defaulters in various districts, including Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan, and also disconnected supply to dozens of consumers for failure to clear the dues.

A Pesco statement on Tuesday said the recovery teams disconnected power supply to many consumers due to non-payment of Rs1 million.

The statement said, Rs876,000 were recovered from defaulters in Nowshera-I division and Rs5,000 in Kohat, respectively. Rs167,188 were recovered from 37 defaulters in Pabbi-I subdivision, Rs136,852 from Pabbi-II subdivision and Rs57,455 from four defaulters in Pir Piayi subdivision, respectively.

Likewise, Rs685,000 were recovered in Peshawar city division, Rs206,100 in Shabqadar subdivision, Rs120,000 in Tangi subdivision and Rs120,000 from urban area of Kohat, respectively.

Pesco teams also recovered Rs0.5 million from defaulters in Mardan-I division and Rs0.4 million from defaulters in Swabi, respectively. —Bureau Report