Explosives, detonators seized  

PESHAWAR, Nov 21: Police seized 750 kilogram explosives and 9,750 detonators during search of a pick-up van (G-4234) and arrested the driver near Hazarkhwani here on Wednesday.

An official of the Yakatoot police station said the police had cordoned off the Ring Road following a tip-off. He said the explosives had been transported from the tribal areas and destined for Peshawar.

“We have arrested an accused Roman Khan of Zargarabad Peshawar. It is yet to be ascertained if the accused belonged to a terrorist group or was carrier of the explosives,” the official said.

The official avoided sharing further details and said apparently the explosives were brought to Peshawar to use them in terrorist activity in Muharram.

He said case had been registered against the accused and interrogation was underway in this regard. —Bureau Report

Eight policemen arrested

LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 21: Eight policemen, including a head constable, were arrested over negligence after an under-trial prisoner escaped from their custody, said an official on Wednesday.

The official said the under-trial prisoner Kalimullah alias Kallu facing murder and attempt to murder charges was taken to judicial complex Tajazai for appearing in court. “He managed to escape taking the advantage of negligence of policemen on duty,” the official maintained.

He said a head constable and seven other policemen were arrested and cases were filed against them in Ghaznikhel police station.

The arrested policemen included head constable Mohammad Farooq and constables Ajab Khan, Munawar Khan, Nawab Khan, Jamshed, Mohammad Ayyub, Ajmal Khan and Rifatullah. —Correspondent

Awareness about TB urged

PESHAWAR, Nov 21: Tuberculosis (TB) is curable disease and can only be overcome on timely diagnosis and treatment on regular basis, says Dr Taj Mohammad.

He expressed these views while giving a lecture at the Peshawar Press club on Wednesday organised by National TB Control Programme, Peshawar district and Association for Community Development to create awareness among the people.

Dr Taj, an official of the Peshawar district chapter of the National TB Control Programme, informed that the lack of awareness among the masses regarding TB had aggravated the situation because either the patients used to conceal the disease or they did not know about the symptoms.

Some of the symptoms, he said were consecutive coughing for three weeks, blood in sputum, no hunger, and on-and-off fever. —Bureau Report

Pak-Afghan border closed

PARACHINAR, Nov 21: MNA from Kurram Sajid Turi has said that Pak-Afghan border will be closed from today (Thursday) for three days over security reasons.

Addressing a press conference at Parachinar Press Club on Wednesday, the MNA said the government had decided to close the Pak-Afghan border in Kurram for three days owing to security situation during Muharram.

He said strict security measures had been taken throughout the tribal agency to avert any eventuality during the holy month.

Apart from Levies and FC the Pak army personnel were also deployed at sensitive areas in the agency.

He said tribal volunteers were also deployed at Imambargahs and other places of worship. He said the tribal elders played positive role in maintaining law and order situation. —Correspondent

Scholarship programme

MARDAN, Nov 21: The Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKU) and University of Malaya, Malaysia, on Wednesday signed an MoU for scholarship programme for higher studies of teachers.

AWKU Vice-Chancellor Dr Ihsan Ali and Malaya University VC Dr Ghauth Jasmon signed the MoU at a function held here. The MoU is aimed at collaborating in areas such as joint research, student exchange and faculty development and training.

Joint publications, sharing of reports and academic materials as well as sharing of information are covered under the MoU.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan has already signed MoUs with a number of universities of international repute in Europe. —Correspondent

Youth social competition

TIMERGARA, Nov 21: A youth social entrepreneurship competition was held in the University of Malakand under the umbrella of student societies, UoM and youth education social network, Pakistan.

Three groups of students were awarded Rs50,000 each for their best ideas at a function held with vice-chancellor Dr Johar Ali in the chair, according to a press release issued here on Wednesday.

Addressing the function, the VC expressed gratitude over launching the first-ever social enterprise competition in the university.

“It is a fascinating idea to engage young people in designing and implementing innovative ideas for change,” he said, adding the youth education social network deserved applause for training and engaging faculty members and students of the university to implement this novel idea. —Correspondent

Literary shows

LAKKI MARWAT, Nov 21: Students of a private high school outclassed the students of government run high and higher secondary schools in annual literary competitions held here on Wednesday. The competitions were held in Government Higher Secondary School Tajazai.

Zakirullah, student of Faiz Model High School, stood first in English debate while another student of the same school Mohammad Yasir grabbed first position in Urdu debate competition.

In Naat and Qirat competitions, Asad Fahim and Junaid Iqbal of Faiz Model High School were declared winners. A group of students led by Abdul Wahab of the same school won national song competition. —Correspondent

Political activities in Bajaur

KHAR, Nov 21: Political Agent Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah has said a prior written permission of the administration would be compulsory for the political parties to organise public meetings and other activities in the region.

This was decided at a meeting with the leaders of Bajaur Political Alliance to discuss the situation after the Monday’s suicide attack on Jamaat-i-Islami former amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Wednesday.

Mr Jabbar said the government was committed to boosting political activities in the region, but added the law and order situation and fear of possible militant attacks were threats and problems that the administration couldn’t ignore.

He briefed the leaders about the new security plan for political activities and said the administration would provide security to the public meetings. —Correspondent