Briefs...

Ch Sarwar’s resignation a failure of govt: JI
By our correspondent
CHAKWAL: The resignation of Punjab governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar clearly shows that the government has failed to protect life and property of the people.It was said by Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Liaqat Baloch while addressing the DBA members at the bar room here on Friday. Liaqat Baloch said that the whole nation was united to eliminate terrorism from the country, adding that 21st amendment had divided the country due to certain reservations regarding the religious institutions. He said that there was a panic among the religious parties regarding the amendment. He lauded the role of lawyers for challenging the 21st amendment in the Supreme Court.

Two workers killed in Haripur road accident
By our correspondent
HARIPUR: Two factory workers were killed and the driver of a van sustained injuries in a road accident in the limits of Kot Najibullah Police Station on Friday, official sources said. The sources said that Ramiz along with a co-worker was on his way home from the factory in Hattar Industrial Estate when a speeding van (RIW-3939) collided with their motorcycle near Dotali Bridge. The motorcyclists and the van driver were wounded. They were rushed to the Women and Children Hospital in Haripur. Ramiz and his friend succumbed to their injuries. The van driver was shifted to the Abbottabad Medical Complex in a critical condition. The police registered the case and started an investigation.

Women protest against Pesco in DI Khan
By our correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The women and children of Awanabad locality Friday staged a protest against the officials of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) for not repairing the power transformer. A hundreds of women and children took out protest procession and burnt tyres near Kotli Imam Hussain. They chanted slogans against the Pesco officials. Speaking on the occasion, the protesters said that the power transformer of their locality had been lying faulty for a long time and the Pesco officials did not pay attention for its repair despite several requests. They said that they were forced to stage protest against the apathy of the Pesco officials.

Rs500m grant approved for Gomal University
By our correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Planning Commission of Pakistan has approved a grant of Rs500 million for the Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, sources said on Friday. The sources said that the former Vice- Chancellor Dr Inayatullah Khan Babar had forwarded a summary to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in March 2014, seeking approval of the grant for the university. The sources said that the Planning Commission held a meeting with the Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal in the chair. It approved Rs500 million for the Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan. The sources said it was the first-ever grant having been approved by the federal government for the university as the university was facing financial crises.

Peshawar wedding hall owner
receives threatening letter
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Counter -Terrorism Department on Friday lodged a case against unknown extortionists for threatening the owner of a wedding hall on the Dilazak Road. According to an official, the owner of the wedding hall Malik Intikhab had approached the police after receiving a letter from unknown extortionists demanding Rs10 million extortion.

PHC acquits convict in narcotics case
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday acquitted a convict who had been awarded life imprisonment in a narcotics case. The court observed that there were doubts about the registration of the case as the officials concerned didn’t follow the law and legal procedure. A two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Musarrat Hilali acquitted the convict of narcotics charge after hearing arguments from both the parties. It was stated in the order that the officials concerned didn’t follow the relevant section of the law. The bench added the relevant officials had erred by sending the hashish for examination to the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory instead of doing so in Peshawar. The convict Akmal Khan hailing from Mardan had challenged his life term in the PHC.

Chinese delegation visits UMT
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A delegation from China visited the University of Management and Technology (UMT) here on Friday. The delegation comprised Miss Jiang Li (Secretary General of Jiangsu Chamber and President of Huawen College, Quingdao), Mr Alex pan (Chairman Association of All Chinese Companies working in Pakistan), Mr Michael and Mr Kavin Manager from the same company. According to a press release UMT and Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce would join hands for educational cultural and economic bonds to take place between the two countries. UMT Rector Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad also briefed the Chinese delegation about the university, saying the Chinese language was being taught at UMT.

Two cops injured in Kohat accident
By our correspondent
KOHAT: Two cops, who were escorting Bannu Commissioner, sustained injuries in a road accident near the Kohat Toll Plaza on the Indus Highway here on Friday evening, sources said. The sources said Bannu Division Commissioner Syed Mohsin Ali Shah was on his way to Peshawar when the police van escorting him collided with a truck parked near the Kohat Toll Plaza on the Indus Highway in the evening. Two cops indentified as Head Constable Misal Khan and driver Ali Khan sustained injuries. They were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Kohat. The police registered the case and started investigation.

Man killed in Pabbi
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a man in the limits of Pabbi Police Station on Friday, official sources said. Said Raziq reported to the police that his brother Abdul Khaliq was on the way home when unidentified motorcyclists fired at his vehicle on Banda Nabi Road, killing him instantly. He had enmity with no one, he added. The police registered the case and started investigation.

Afghan cleric arrested in Nowshera
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: The police Friday arrested a cleric for delivering a provocative sermon in the limits of Pabbi Police Station on Friday, official sources said. The sources said the police arrested Maulana Noorullah, the prayer leader of Jamia Masjid Madni Tainzai No-1, for delivering a provocative sermon. The arrested cleric hailed from Afghanistan.

Narcotics seized in Khyber Agency
By our correspondent
JAMRUD: The Khassadar force arrested two alleged drug-traffickers and recovered narcotics during a crackdown against the outlaws in Jamrud tehsil in Khyber Agency on Friday.Talking to reporters, Assistant Political Agent (APA) Fahad Wazir said that the Khassadars raided the den of the outlaws and arrested the accused. Some 41 kilograms of hashish, nine kilos opium and five kilos heroin were seized. The names of those caught red-handed trafficking drugs were not disclosed.

Another hand grenade found near Sadiq Garh Palace
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: Another hand grenade was found near Sadiq Garh Palace here on Friday evening. Dera Nawab SHO Tassaduq Abbas confirmed that they recovered the hand grenade, which was later defused by the bomb disposal squad. He said that they were looking into the matter. Panic gripped the area after the recovery of the hand grenade. Meanwhile, five mortar shells were found and defused by the bomb disposal squad near Sadiq Garh Palace. Ahmadpur East ASP Mehzoor Ali Ghauri is investigating the matter.

Air chief calls on defence minister of Tanzania
ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafiq Butt called on Dr Hussein, Defence Minister of Tanzania, said a press release on Friday. Both the dignitaries remained together for some time and discussed matters of defence and military cooperation, said a PAF press release issued here. The Air Chief assured the Tanzanian defence minister of enhancing military cooperation between the two countries in general and the two Air Forces in particular. Later, souvenirs were exchanged between the two dignitaries. The Air Chief is on an official visit to Tanzania on the special invitation of the Tanzanian Air Force.

Timber worth millions of rupees seized in Shangla
By our correspondent
BISHAM: The Forest Department recovered timber worth millions of rupees and registered 48 cases against smugglers in Shangla district, an official said on Friday.District Forest Officer Farhad Ali told The News that the department recovered 3,500 feet of timber which was stored in godowns in various part of the district.He said that 28 factories with illegal wood-cutting machines were closed and 70 more were shut down by the owners before the crackdown was launched in the area. He said 120 furniture shops were also closed in Shangla.During the crackdown, five mules were also seized by the Forest Department officials, he added. The official said the department was planning to establish community checkpost and joint forest management committees to check the illegal cutting of trees. He said the idea was not only to protect the forests but also forest conservation in Shangla.

Four absconding criminals arrested
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: Police claimed they arrested here four criminals who were wanted in different criminal cases. The police teams from different police stations of Larkana, including Ratodero, Hatri Ghulam Shah and Mahota, raided in different areas of Larkana and nabbed Sajid Mirani, Aajiz Chandio, Hadi Bakhsh Hakro and Saeed Ahmed Chandio. Huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered their possession. Cases were registered against the arrested accused. In a press statement issued by PRO of SSP Larkana Kamran Nawaz said crackdown operation against criminal elements in the district would continue to control the crime rate and maintaining law and order situation in Larkana. The statement said the police are committed to protect lives and properties of the public and put an end to social evils. It said stern action would be taken against criminal elements and their supporters.

MPA Ghulam Murtaza Khar disqualified
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: Election Tribunal Special Judge Ch Abdul Hafeez disqualified MPA Malik Ghulam Murtaza Rahim Khar who was independently elected from PP-253 Muzaffargarh in last general elections. PML-N’s Dr Younis Khan and PPP’s Ahsanul Haq Maladia, in separate petitions, had alleged massive irregularities and rigging in the constituency. The court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold the by-polls in the constituency.

Dacoit flees from lock-up
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: An alleged dacoit fled from the Faqirwali police lock-up on Friday. Muhammad Naeem, a resident of Haroonabad, was arrested in a dacoity case and had been on judicial remand. He managed to escape from the lock-up after opening its lock. Bahawalnagar DPO Muntazar Mehdi said that Moharar Shahzad and cops on duty had been arrested after a case against them.

Security of ATCs beefed up
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: Police have beefed up security of the anti-terrorism courts, said the CPO. Talking to newsmen here on Friday, he said that a sub-inspector, four ASIs, three head constables and 38 constables had been deployed at the anti-terrorism courts. He said that policemen in plainclothes would also be deployed on the court premises. He said that names and addresses of the people visiting the ATCs would be registered. The CPO said that no armed man would be permitted to enter the courts.

Four religious leaders held for a month
By our correspondent
TOBA TEK SINGH: On the order of the DCO, four religious leaders were arrested and sent to the District Jail for one month on Friday. They are Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Kamalia activists Rai Najeebullah Khan and Qari Muhammad Iqbal and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen activists Rizwan Haider and Asad Ali.

‘Govt to win battle against terror’
ISLAMABAD: Leader of the House, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq said on Friday the government will win the battle against terror, as the nation does not have any option to loose this fight. Condemning the killing of innocent people as a result of bomb attack in Shikarpur, he said, “We have already lost 60,000 people, including army and other innocent Pakistanis during the last thirteen years.” He stated that the government would continue operation till the elimination of last terrorist.

Gas pipeline blown up in Sohbat Pur
JAFFRABAD: Unidentified men blew up a gas pipeline in Durgi area of Sohbat Pur. Police said unidentified men exploded a four-inch gas pipeline by planting explosive material, which suspended gas supply to several areas. Technical team of Sui Southern Gas Company reached the area and initiated repair work.

Man held for sending hundi
By our correspondent
LAHORE: FIA on Friday raided a mobile centre here in Lahore and arrested an accused involved in running an illegal hundi business. According to sources, the accused was identified as Khalid Waheed. The raiding team also recovered receipts of Rs 8 million from the spot.