Briefs...

Sindh govt told to establish counter-terrorism control rooms
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: The Interior Ministry has directed the Sindh government to establish counter-terrorism control rooms in each office of the Senior Superintendent of Police. The News has learnt that the IGP of Sindh has forwarded the letter to all the SSPs of their respective districts to establish fully-equipped counter-terrorism control rooms in their respective offices. Reports said that the IGP of Sindh has ordered all the SSPs to establish such rooms within 15 days and to report to him. The Interior Ministry also wrote a letter to the home department of Sindh asking it to ensure security to all the schools, whether private or government-owned.

Demo in Sukkur against kidnapping of journalist’s brother
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: Journalists of Sukkur, Khairpur and some other cities under the banner of Sukkur Union of Journalists on Thursday took out a protest rally against kidnapping of a brother of a senior journalist, Ghulam Qadir Soomro. Addressing the participants of the rally, speakers said that journalists were martyred in the line of duty but they never compromised on their principles. They urged the chief minister and his cabinet ministers to take notice of the kidnappings of journalists and their family members.

KP lawyers boycott courts against
threats to senior colleague
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The lawyers community on Thursday observed a complete boycott of courts to protest the threats hurled at senior lawyer. The lawyers bodies observed the strike across the province on the call of KP Bar Council. They lawyers stayed away from courts as a mark of protest at the threats hurled at Abdus Sattar Khan by the rival party in a case that he has taken up to plead. Like other parts of the province, the lawyers in provincial metropolis also boycotted the PHC and subordinate courts.

Three held for misusing loudspeaker
By our correspondent
KASUR: Police arrested three people, including a Khateeb, on the charge of misusing loudspeaker here on Thursday. Hafiz Shan of Masjid Khadeejatul Kubra, Mustafaabad, and Muhammad Yousaf of Jamia Masjid Ya-Ali were arrested for using loudspeaker for donation while Khateeb of Masjid Ahle Hadith, Allahabad, was arrested for hate speech. Separate cases have been registered.

21 schools sensitive in Chakwal
By our correspondent
CHAKWAL: As many as 21 educational institutions, out of total 2,056 private and government institutions, have been declared sensitive in the district. DCO Asif Bilal Lodhi said that all educational institutions were bound to install CCTV cameras, erect eight-foot boundary wall and two-foot barbed wire on it.

Muqam wants action against coalmine owners
By our correspondent
BISHAM: Expressing profound grief over the death of coal miners belonging to Shangla in Orakzai Agency, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice president Amir Muqam Thursday asked the authorities to take action against the owners of the coalmines for not following the safety measures.He directed the administration to shift forthwith the bodies to Shangla. He said that all the mines where proper safety measures had not been taken should be closed immediately.Meanwhile, PML-N leader and MNA Dr Ibadullah asked the government to announce compensation for the victims of the coalmine blast in Orakzai Agency. He asked the government to make proper legislation for regulating the mines sector in the country.

Winter vacations of private schools in Swat extended
By our correspondent
MINGORA: The authorities have extended the winter vacations for private schools in Swat district to February 28. Officials said the district administration extended the winter vacations on the directives of the provincial government. It directed the administration of the private schools not to reopen the institutions before the scheduled date. Swat Deputy Commissioner Mehmood Aslam said the administration of the private sector educational institutions had been informed about the government’s decision. The district president of the Public Schools Management Association, Sawab Khan criticised the decision. He complained that the government was after the private sector schools. He said a meeting of the owners and administration of the private schools had been convened for today. It will discuss the issue and adopt a joint strategy for the issue.

Threatening letter causes panic in Lahore school
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A threatening letter posted outside a government school in Rajgarh, Sandah on Thursday caused panic among the school staff, students and their parents. The parents after knowing about the letter rushed the Govt Middle School for Girls, and picked their children and expressed concern over the alleged poor security arrangements at the school. The letter mentioned any possible attack on the school. It is learnt that the Punjab government has started an inquiry into the case. Education EDO Muhammad Pervaiz Akhtar told The News that the letter seemed fake and mischief. He said the school was in category-B and claimed security measures had been taken as per the SOPs. He added police were informed and the said letter/notice was handed over to them for investigation.

Six injured in Nowshera cylinder blast
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Six minors and an elderly woman suffered burn injuries in a gas cylinder blast at the Ziarat Stop near Sheikh Shahbaz Baba in Pabbi tehsil on Thursday, official sources said. They said six minors identified as Abdullah, Bilal, Shahbaz, Aqsa Bibi, Muskan Bibi, Amna Bibi and their grandmother Rakhsheen Bibi suffered burn injuries when a gas cylinder exploded in the a house. They were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar wherefrom they were shifted to the Burn Unit at Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar. Condition of five kids was stated to be critical. All the valuables in the room were reduced to ashes. The fire was extinguished after the locals put in hectic efforts.

Soldier found dead in Nowshera
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: A soldier was found dead in Ziarat Kaka Sahib here on Thursday, police sources said. Imran Ali Shah reported to the police that his 22-year-old brother Hassan Ali Shah had left home for Gujranwala to join his duty on Tuesday. However, his body was found dumped near their house. He told the police that his family had no enmity with anyone. The police registered the case and started an investigation. Meanwhile, Mehr Taj told the police that he along with his nephews Fawad and Jawad was returning from a local court when their rivals Johar Ali, Nek Manshah and Wazir Badshah opened fire on them, killing his nephew Fawad on the spot.

Relief items distributed among IDPs
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Woman parliamentarians distributed relief goods among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jalozai Campon Thursday. The legislators, including Members National Assembly (MNAs) Ayesha Munawar, Aliya Naz Tanoli and Dr Fauzia and Amira Khan visited the Jalozai IDPs camp. They distributed medicines, blankets and food items among the displaced families. Talking to reporters, they said the people were sharing grievances and troubles with the displaced families. The lawmakers said that IDPs abandoned homes and rendered sacrifices.

Militant commander arrested in Kohat
By our correspondent
KOHAT: An important commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was arrested during a search operation in Orakzai Banda here on Thursday, official sources said. They said the security forces were tipped off about the presence of the militants in Orakzai Banda in Kohat district. A party of the security forces and police raided a house and arrested Hikmatyar, a commander of the TTP.