Briefs...

Death toll from Afghan avalanches reaches 200
BAZARAK, Afghanistan: The death toll from a series of avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall in Afghanistan rose above 200 on Thursday, officials said.The bulk of the deaths came in Panjshir province, north of Kabul, where at least 168 people were killed, acting provincial governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri told AFP. The avalanches came after days of heavy snow, which destroyed more than 100 homes in the province and blocked main roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the stricken villages. “Our death toll has risen to 168 people killed in avalanches in Panjshir province,” Kabiri said, warning that the figure may rise in the coming hours.

‘PPP to accept APCs decision’
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: Syed Khursheed Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, said on Thursday that the proposal regarding an amendment in the Constitution to prevent horse trading is disappointing. Talking to the media in Sukkur on Thursday, he stated only a decision of the All Parties Conference (APC) in this regard will be acceptable to the PPP leadership. The prime minister had asked the committees to enhance their contact with political parties so that procedures necessary for stopping horse-trading can be agreed upon before the upcoming Senate elections, including a constitutional amendment, if required.

PM visits late Bhagwandas’ residence, extends condolences
KARACHI: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday visited the residence of late Rana Bhagwandas, former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to express condolences with the bereaved family.Talking to the wife of Rana Bhagwandas, the prime minister regarded the late judge a “man of honour, conviction and an eminent judge of impeccable character”.He also paid tributes to the services of late Mr. Bhagwandas as chairman of Federal Public Service Commission.Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan accompanied the prime minister.

Man kills wife in Lahore
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A 25-year-old girl was shot dead by her husband in Shadbagh on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Fakhara Bibi, wife of Nadim Butt of Chah Miran Shadbagh. Police said accused Nadim returned from the UK sometime back and had an exchange of hot words with his wife over an unknown issue and later shot at and wounded her and escaped. Injured Fakhara was rushed to a local hospital where she succumbed to her wounds. No case was registered.

Punjabi Taliban threaten to kill Muzaffargarh DPO, SHO
MUZAFFARGARH: The Punjabi Taliban’s Aslam group has threatened to kill District Police Officer Rai Zameerul Haq and Sadr SHO SI Malik Saleem Bhutta for killing their four members in an encounter. In a letter issued by the Home Department, the DPO and the SI have been asked to be vigilant and observe strict security measures for their safety. According to the letter, Tanveer Gurchani alias Shahzad alias Ustad and Qari Obaidullah alias Qari Imran of the Punjabi Taliban’s Aslam group have threatened to blow up the DPO and the SHO for killing their four members.

Youth dies while doing wheelie
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A 28-year-old man died after his motorbike hit a pole when he was doing wheelie in the Racecourse Police limits on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Asad of Shadbagh. He was doing wheelie along with his friends near the Jail Road Underpass when he lost control of the bike and hit a pole and sustained injuries. He was taken to hospital, but the doctors pronounced him dead. Meanwhile, a Wapda line-man was electrocuted in the Nishtar Colony Police limits. The man was identified as Hakim Ali of Kasur. He is survived by a wife and five children. The victim was repairing a transformer when he was electrocuted.

Afghan national gets 22 years jail in terror case
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday awarded 22 years sentence to a man belonging to Afghanistan in a terrorism case. The judge, Salim Khan, handed down the sentence and fine of Rs15,000 to Najiul Haq, an Afghan national.During the trial of the case, the public prosecutor stated that the cops in the Pishtakhara Police Station booked the Afghan national on August 9, 2014 after recovery of explosives materials, 2kg locally- made bomb and detonators from his possession.The police had charged the accused under Section 5 of Explosives Substance Act and Section 7 of the ATA and Section 15 of the Arms Ordinance.

Seven cops injured in Bannu roadside blast
Suspected militant gunned down
By our correspondent
BANNU: Seven cops, including a station house officer (SHO), sustained injuries in a remote-controlled blast near the Kangar bridge on Thursday, official sources said. They said that a police party, headed by Mandan Police Station SHO Saadullah Khan, was on a routine patrol. The police van was targetted with a remote-controlled bomb in Sponi Killay near the Kangar bridge. Police sources said the explosives were fixed to a motorcycle parked at the roadside. SHO Saadullah Khan and other cops, including Majid Nawaz, Afsar Ali Khan, Wahidullah, Farmanullah, Sadiq Ahmad and Jalal Khan sustained injuries. The police claimed to have killed the militant identified as Shakilur Rehman, who had triggered the remote-controlled explosion, when he was escaping from the scene after the blast. The injured cops were shifted to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu. One of the injured cops Jalal Khan was stated to be in critical condition. Following the incident, the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Swat lawyers meet PHC CJ
By our correspondent
MINGORA: The Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Mingora bench and District Bar Association members met Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Mazhar Alam Miankhel and discussed the tension between the bar and lower judiciary in Swat. The PHC chief assured the lawyers’ leaders Fazal Ghafoor and Muhammad Zahir that cases against the lawyers would be quashed and also the inquiry initiated against the protesting judicial staff. The PHC chief also approved the leave application of district and sessions judge.

Two held, drugs seized in Jamrud
By our correspondent
BARA: The Khassadar personnel arrested two alleged drug-traffickers and seized 92kg of drugs in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency on Thursday, official sources said. The sources said that acting on a tip-off, the Khassadar personnel raided the house of Asghar in Shahkas and recovered 78kg of heroin and 16kg of hashish. They said two alleged drug-traffickers, whose identity could not be ascertained, were also arrested.

Child dies as widow with two sons attempts suicide
Her jobless husband committed suicide last year
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: A child died when a widow poisoned herself and two sons in Rukanpur Town, Rahimyar Khan, on Thursday. Sharam Khatoon, a widow, along with her sons Haider Ali, 4, and Faizan Ali, 3, attempted suicide by consuming poison. They were shifted to the Sheikh Zayed Hospital where Haider Ali died while Sharam Khatoon and Faizan were in critical condition. The motive behind the incident is said to be poverty. Her husband had also committed suicide due to unemployment and financial problems last year.

Houses being demolished without paying compensation
By our correspondent
KASUR: Hundreds of houses are being demolished for construction of 10-mile Bypass without giving compensation to the owners, said union council former nazim Mehr Muhammad. Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, he said that the district administration had promised compensation when the project was approved but now it was not paying any compensation to the affected house owners. He demanded immediate payment of compensation to the house owners.

India releases 13 Pakistani prisoners
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Indian Border Security Force (BSF) handed over 13 Pakistani prisoners to Rangers at Wagah Border on Thursday. The prisoners were released as a goodwill gesture. They included M Shamim, Khuda Bux, Aqeel Awan, Razaullah, Shahid Mahmood, Abdul Khaliq, Ali Ahmed, Allah Dita, Abid Siyani, Zaheer Abbasi, Tariq Mahmood Alvi, Bashir, and Imtiaz Ahmed. Edhi Foundation arranged meal for them. Later on, families of the two of the released prisoners reached Wagah Border and escorted them to their homes. The remaining 11 prisoners were shifted to Edhi Home at Gulberg.

Mosques, Imambargahs in Bhakkar to get arms licences
By our correspondent
BHAKKAR: The Punjab government has approved issuance of arms licences to mosques and Imambargahs to foil any untoward incident. According to the guidelines issued to the DCOs, licences will be issued after scrutiny of sensitive mosques and Imambargahs. No watchman will be allowed to perform duty without weapons. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has decided to monitor performance of the local government departments. In this regard, the DCOs have been directed to submit the performance report daily. It is learnt that the performance of the departments is declining gradually.

Deaf, dumb girl commits suicide in Darul Aman
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: A 22-year-old deaf and dumb girl committed suicide at Darul Aman here on Wednesday night. The girl committed suicide by hanging herself with a fan. According to Darul Aman incharge Sehar Siddique, the girl was shifted to the Darul Aman, Bahawalpur, from the Darul Aman, Lodhran, in September 2014 on the orders of the DCO after she attempted suicide several times. The motive behind the incident could not be ascertained so far.

FIA unearths illegal gateway exchange
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Thursday unearthed an illegal gateway exchange working at Christian Town, Sialkot. FIA Inspectors Sajad Bajwa and his team raided the locality and arrested illegal gateway exchange operators Imtaiz Hussain, Zaheer Ahmed and Fraz Ahmed and recovered illegal Sims, laptops, 40 cellphones and other devices from them.

16 lawyers booked for torturing TMO
By our correspondent
DASKA: City police Thursday registered a case against 16 lawyers on charges of torturing the TMO. According to the case, TMO Malik Zia was present in his office when advocates Asid Sindhu, Mian Nasir, Ijaz Ashraf, Irfan Sahi, Maqbool and ten other lawyers arrived and thrashed him.In reaction, the TMA employees locked their offices and staged a demonstration.