HARIPUR, Nov 12: Four people were shot dead in three different incidents here on Monday.

In the first incident Safdar Khan, Khalid and four others allegedly opened fire on Babar Khan and Ghulam Mustafa of village Paharo, some 5km from here when they were on their way to a nearby village, resulting in the death of both on the spot. The killers escaped.

The cause of the murders is said to be an old enmity. The assailants is said to have facilitated the arrest of Javed Khan, an absconder and belonging to the assailants group. A family source of the victims said that there had been a long dispute between the two rival groups, Kaleema and Babar, and over 14 persons from both sides had been killed so far. Safdar Khan group who was nominated by the family of Babar Khan as an accused, used to work for Babar Khan and was also required by the police in a number of cases along with Babar who was allegedly shot dead by Safdar on Monday.

In the second incident, Ms Asia Bibi was shot at by her close relative Sheeda son of Niaz Mohammed, resident of village Phala Gali, when she was on way back to her home after fetching water from a nearby place. She was taken to Khanpur hospital but died on way.

In the third murder Arif son of Fazal Rehman was called out of the house by Taj Mohammed, Bilal and Farooq and was shot dead.

CRITICIZED: Criticizing the performance of Zila Nazim, the former provincial minister for local bodies and rural development Yousaf Ayub Khan has held him responsible for the rejection of district budget by the provincial finance department delaying development schemes.

Talking to local newsmen here at Haripur Press Club on Sunday, Yousaf Khan said budgets of almost all the districts and tehsils of the province had been approved and development projects had been kicked off.

A budget of Rs 402 million with 50 per cent allocations for development schemes had been passed with majority when 23 members staged a boycott.