Briefs...

Three killed in Quetta gas leak blast
QUETTA: At least three people including two children died due to gas leakage on Alamdar Road within the precincts of Qaidabad PS, police said on Monday.They said that, gas leakage in a house in Nadirabad area caused explosion, damaging the wall and subsequently killing three and injuring other inmates.Police official said that women Fatima Bibi went into the kitchen to make breakfast and turned on the stove upon which an explosion occurred.As a result woman, 8 year old Mohammad Ali and two month old Bibi Zehra were killed instantly. Three children also suffered injuries.The injured were moved to Civil Hospital Quetta. Further probe was in progress.

Punjab govt has failed to deliver, says Wattoo
By our correspondent
ARIFWALA: PPP Punjab president Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo Monday said the Punjab government has completely failed to deliver on all fronts. Addressing the workers convention, Wattoo said the Punjab government had promised to overcome loadshedding, and now people themselves can compare achievements of the incumbent government with than that of the erstwhile PPP government. He said due to deteriorating law and order situation, citizens themselves are guarding their assets and lives.

Man held for attempt to marry 13-year-old stepdaughter
By our correspondent
FAISALABAD: Civil Lines police foiled a man’s attempt to marry his 13-year-old stepdaughter at Islamnagar on Monday. Rehana Kausar, mother of four, had contracted second marriage with Shoaib Ali after a divorce from her first husband sometime ago. On the day of the incident, Shoaib was solemnising Nikah with Rehana’s daughter Kinza when police were informed. Police rushed to the spot and arrested accused Shoaib. Police have registered a case against the accused under Section 376/511 of the PPC.

Oil tanker overturns in Hafizabad
By our correspondent
HAFIZABAD: More than 4,000 litres diesel wasted when an oil tanker overturned on Gujranwala Road on Monday.After receiving the information about the accident, the DCO, Rescue 1122 staffers and other officers rushed to the spot to avoid any further untoward incident. The Rescue 1122 staffers mixed some chemical in the diesel to avoid fire.

150 more Afghan nationals deported via Torkham
By our correspondent
LANDIKOTAL: The number of Afghan nationals deported during the last one month has reached 3,650 as 150 more were deported via Torkham border on Monday, official sources said. The Peshawar Police and other law-enforcing agencies, during raids against unregistered Afghans, arrested 150 more Afghans from various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Those deported were aged between 20 and 50 years.

Teacher jailed, fined in sexual assault, murder case
By our correspondent
MANSEHRA: A local court on Monday handed down 30-year imprisonment term and fine of Rs250,000 to a teacher who had reportedly killed a first-year student after he (victim) resisted a sexual assault in Gari Habibullah in 2012. Additional Sessions Judge Balakot Haq Nawaz Khan, after hearing counsels from both sides, pronounced the verdict. The convict Mohammad Naveed, said to be teacher of a private school, deceived Bashir Riaz, a student of first year, to a deserted place in Gari Habibullah and attempted to sexually assault him but the student put up resistance and was killed. The police arrested Naveed and lodged a first information report against him. The case had sparked protests and traders and local people took to the streets and observed complete shutdown.

Trader injured while resisting kidnapping bid in Nowshera
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: A trader sustained injuries when four persons dressed in security forces uniform tried to kidnap him in Rashakai, police sources said on Monday. Majid Iqbal who has medicine store on the Mardan-Nowshera Road in Rashakai, had been receiving calls from unknown persons for ransom for the last few months. He told the police that three men dressed in the uniform of Anti-Terrorism Squad came to his shop and asked him that their boss who was waiting in a car on the road wanted to see him. The citizen said that when he reached the car, he realized that the men dressed in forces uniform were kidnappers as the man seated in the back of the car asked him to get into the car. When he resisted, the kidnappers got scared and escaped.

IDPs protest for release of salaries
By our correspondent
BANNU: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were employees of various government departments staged protest against the relevant authorities for not paying them their salaries and blocked Bannu-Kohat Road for some time on Monday. Led by All Fata Teachers Association chairman Hafiz Ihsan Wali, vice chairman Aziz Dawar, general secretary Farman Khan and others, the protesters were carrying banners and placards and chanted slogans against an accountant officer for withholding their salaries. Later, speaking at a press conference in Bannu Press Club, they said account officer had withheld the salaries without any reason. The government employees residing in IDPs Camps in Bannu had no other source of income and their children would face starvation if they were not paid their salaries, they lamented.

Nursing students continue protest
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Nursing students continued protest at Sheikh Zayed Hospital on Monday to press for the demand of registration of degree from Pakistan Nursing Council. They staged a sit-in at the entrance of a medical college, disrupting academic activities at the institution. Nurses, however, called off protest in the evening after successful negotiations with the government team headed by Special Secretary Health Suleman Mufti.

Two drug pushers held in Lahore
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Naulakha Police claimed to have arrested two drug dealers and recovered more than 15kg chemicals used in manufacturing heroin and other drugs on Monday. They were identified as Shahid and Zulfiqar. Police recovered 15kg Ephedrine, a chemical used in manufacturing heroine and other drugs.

Kidnapper held in Peshawar
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Counter Terrorism Department arrested a kidnapper here on Monday, said a press release. It said that Nauman who was wanted to the police in kidnapping cases was arrested at Chowk Mardan. Several cases of kidnapping and other crimes were registered against him at the Saro Shah Police Station and City Police Station.