Four shot dead in Swabi

SWABI, Nov 12: Four people were killed in separate incidents here on Monday.

Police said in Kalu Khan, rivals opened fire on a man, identified as Zahid Khan, after exchange of hot words with him, killing him and a passerby, Ayaz Khan, on the sport.

Noor Sher, uncle of the deceased, Zahid, registered an FIR against the accused Nasir Khan and Shahid Khan.

In Yar Hussain area, Wajid Ali was shot dead by Akbar Khan and Shahab Khan allegedly over a woman dispute.

In the third incident, Zafar Ahmad was killed by his opponents while he was on his way to home from the fields. Cause of the incident was stated to be an old enmity. Brother of the deceased nominated Shahmin Khan and Asad Khan in the FIR for killing Zafar Ahmad.—Correspondent

Varsity classes from next year

KARAK, Nov 12: Vice-Chancellor of Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak, Prof Ibrahim Khattak has said classes in the university would be started from January 15, next year.

He along with deputy chief planning officer of higher education Mohammad Zaman and revenue officials visited the proposed site of the university near Jail Chowk on Monday. They asked the revenue officials to prepare a map and new plan on the 1,500 kanal land allocated for the university to start work on the building as soon as possible.

Mr Khattak also asked the revenue officials to prepare one year estimate of the market value of the land to ensure payment to the landowners without any further delay.

The revenue officials briefed him about the progress made in the acquisition of land.

Later, talking to media persons Dr Ibrahim Khattak said initially English, journalism, library science, business and computer science departments would start functioning.—Correspondent

Action against filling stations

PESHAWAR, Nov 12: The district administration will register cases against owners of 13 petrol filling stations for overcharging customers in different areas of the provincial metropolis.

The DCO Mohammad Javaid Marwat, in a letter to the provincial government on Monday, stated that the operatives of the filling stations were found overcharging the motorists by Rs2 per litre.

Directing the special magistrate, Niamatullah, and industry development officer Mujahid Khan, the DCO asked for immediately checking the irregularity.

A raiding team found that owners of the filling stations at Warsak Road, University Road, Charsadda Road and Ring Road were violating the law. The administration also recommended taking action against the office-bearers of the union of the petrol pump owners.—Bureau Report

Raise in pension sought

PESHAWAR, Nov 12: The retired employees have expressed concern over the soaring prices of daily use commodities and demanded of the government to increase their pension and son quota in government departments.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, retired employees held a protest demonstration at Sher Shah Suri Road on Monday shouting slogans for solution to their demands.

Talking to media persons the All Pakistan Pensioners Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, president Jamshid Khan and divisional president Fida Mohammad Durrani said they had presented their charter of demands to the provincial government two years ago but it was yet to consider it.

They said the government was providing different kinds of allowances and other incentives to government servants but the retired people had been ignored altogether, which has caused unrest among them.

The government, they said had promised to increase the son quota for jobs but did not materialise the commitment.—Bureau Report

Hindus felicitated on Diwali

PESHAWAR, Nov 12: Governor Barrister Masood Kausar on Monday congratulated the Hindu community of the country in general and of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata in particular on their holy festival of ‘Diwali’ and said ‘we fully share their pleasures and wish them happy and pleasant moments of life’.

In a message of felicitation on Diwali, the governor said the Hindu community was the equal partner in ‘our national struggle for ensuring development and prosperity of our motherland and their role and services in our achievements are well acknowledged reality.

He also referred to his recent visit of Parachinar in Kurram Agency where he met a jirga of Hindu community of the area and, saying it was always his earnest desire to meet non-Muslim communities.

The governor also assured the Hindu community of Fata in particular that their religious, social and civic freedoms will always be upheld as a national responsibility.—Bureau Report