Crackdown on water thieves

The irrigation department has launched a campaign against the canal water thieves in the wake of increasing complaints. In the first phase of the campaign, the task force constituted by chief engineer Usman Akram has got 130 cases registered against landlords of Chak 151, 152 and 153-NB for their alleged involvement in the crime.

However, the district police are allegedly favouring some of the landlords, who are said to be the allies of the ruling party activists. When this correspondent visited Shah Nikdar and Tirkhanwala police stations, the officials claimed that they had registered cases against Naurang, Muhammad Munir, Ata Muhammad, Jeewan and Saeed. They concealed the names of many other suspects.

The chief engineer directed the subordinates to continue this campaign, as irrigation minister Chaudhry Amir Sultan Cheema had strictly ordered action against water thieves without any discrimination.

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Candidates preparing themselves for the Federal Public Service Commission examination have complained about shortage of time in the wake of the decision to conduct written tests in September.

They have appealed to the authorities concerned to review this decision. They claimed that the authorities had taken the decision despite knowing that most of the universities, including the Punjab University, announced results of BA and BSc examination in August after which the aspirants for the competitive examination could properly study.

They told newsmen that the candidates could not study properly due to shortage of time. They said the FPSC used to conduct examination in December, but now it had announced that it would take examination in September.

The candidates have requested the FPSC chairman to review the schedule to help the candidates.

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The PAF Public School in Sargodha has once shown 'exceptional' results in the matriculation examination. The institution admits students to eighth class from all over Pakistan on merit, says its administrator.

Of the total students appeared in the matric examination, three obtained more than 90 per cent marks while 77 got 80 per cent and above marks. Zirgham Iqbal of the institution clinched overall second position in the Sargodha board by securing 92.1 per cent marks while Shafiqur Rahman secured 90.7 per cent marks and bagged third position.