Jewellery shop looted

MANSEHRA, Dec 15: Armed robbers broke into a jewellery shop and decamped with jewellery worth Rs4 million and Rs1 million cash here in early hours of Saturday.

Mohammad Yousuf, the owner of the shop, while lodging FIR with police stated that armed robbers after holding the watchman at gunpoint looted his shop.

He said the robbers cut the ornaments safe with the gas cylinder cutter and decamped with gold ornaments worth Rs4 million and Rs1 million cash.

The traders demanded of police to arrest the robbers and recover the stolen gold otherwise they would observe strike.

In an another attempt, robbers barged into the house of Mohammad Yousuf, but fortunately the inmates awakened making the robbers to flee.—Correspondent

Call for starting work on dam

LAKKI MARWAT, Dec 15: MNA Humayun Saifullah Khan has called upon the government to engage FWO for launching work on Kurrum Tangi Dam project immediately.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, Mr Saifullah said despite completion of designing and feasibility report formalities five years back construction work on dam could not be started. “Taking advantage of favourable circumstances and peaceful environment in the region the government should launch work on it without any further delay,” he maintained.

The lawmaker said delaying important projects was beyond comprehension. The federal government, he said, could win the support of residents of southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribesmen of North Waziristan by ordering work on the dam.—Correspondent

Journalists reject new body

LANDI KOTAL, Dec 15: Journalists representing various national and international media organisations have taken exception to what they call the ‘unlawful’ selection of Fata Sports Writers Association and demanded its immediate dissolution.

At a meeting held here at the press club, journalists contended that senior and registered members of the Tribal Union of Journalists were neither informed about the formation of the new body nor were given any representation in the newly ‘selected’ cabinet, headed by a government schoolteacher.

“The new cabinet is both unlawful and unconstitutional as neither the true representative body of Fata was taken into confidence nor was the ‘selection’ made on merit,” the meeting observed.—Correspondent

Protest against loadshedding

KARAK, Dec 15: The people of Alikhel took out a procession on Saturday to protest against prolonged loadshedding in the area.They said 22-hour-long loadshedding and low voltage had created acute shortage of drinking water and multiplied difficulties of the people.

They chanted slogans against the ANP-led government, saying despite pledges the ANP had failed to ensure supply of electricity to the people of backward areas.

They said price hike and unemployment had made the lives of the people miserable but the rulers were unmoved.

The protesters set a 24-hour deadline to the Pesco to end loadshedding and resolve low voltage problem, otherwise the people would launch a protest movement.—Correspondent

Arrest of tribesmen assailed

GHALANAI, Dec 15: Mohmand Seyasi Ittehand has demanded release of all innocent tribesmen arrested under the collective responsibility law of Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), saying such discriminatory laws were the main hurdle in the implementation of Fata reforms.

The demand was made at a meeting of the Ittehad chaired by Naveed Ahmad at the Mohmand Press Club on Saturday. The participants expressed concern over the utilisation of civil power aid regulation in tribal areas.

They said every day the political administration arrested dozens of tribesmen and sent them to jail under the collective responsibility law.

The meeting also demanded that the royalty of Warsak Dam should be given to Mohmand tribesmen.—Correspondent

Fish smuggling bid foiled

KOHAT, Dec 15: The police on Saturday foiled an attempt of smuggling a truckload of fish to Afghanistan and arrested three carriers.

The cantonment police stopped a truck on Hangu road and recovered a consignment of fish being smuggled to Afghanistan. The police arrested alleged smugglers Ameen Gul, Marjan and Mohammad Anwar, residents of Kurram Agency.

The vehicle was impounded after registration of case against the smugglers.—Correspondent