Briefs...

Pakistan Movement activist passes away
News Desk
Karachi: A Pakistan Movement activist and renowned doctor, Imtiaz-ul-Anbiya Riaz, passed away here on Monday.He will be buried today after Zohr prayers. The burial procession will leave at noon from his home: B-103, Clifton Gardens 1, Block 3, Clifton, near Bilawal Chowrangi.All relatives and friends are requested to attend. Please contact for further information at 0300-2997647.
Protest against plans to privatise Wapda
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: Wapda employees of Pakistan Hydro Electric Central Union here on Tuesday suspended their work and closed their offices against the proposal to privatize Wapda. Employees here and in Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Nausharoferoz and other cities took out protest rallies and suspended their office work and locked their offices.A large number of union workers were shouting slogans against privatization of national institutions.Wali Muhammad Leghari, Syed Attaullah Shah and others demanded of the government to cancel plans for Wapda’s privatization. They alleged that the government was taking dictation from the IMF.

PMA flays waste of polio vaccine
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has strongly criticised the incident of wastage of polio vaccine worth $3.3 million at the federal warehouse in Islamabad. In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the central leadership of the PMA including Prof. Ashraf Nizami, Dr. Izhar Ch., Dr. Kamran Saeed, Dr. Wajid Ali, Dr. Aleem Nawaz and others are of the unanimous opinion that at the time when Pakistan is facing international sanctions because of inadequate polio vaccination, such incident is a criminal act against the state. They said the very casual and indifferent attitude of Federal Minister Saira Afzal Tarar was very painful and reflected the priority of the government for health sector. PMA demands immediate probe and stern action against culprits involved.

13 arrested in Jamrud search operation
By our correspondent
JAMRUD:Security forces arrested 13 suspected persons during a search operation in Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency, official sources said on Tuesday. Security forces clamped a curfew in Ghundai and Lala Cheena areas in Jamrud Tehsil and launched a door-to-door search operation. During the search, the forces closed all the entry and exit points to these areas. The sources said that 13 suspected persons were arrested in the search. They were shifted to Jamrud lock-up for interrogation.

Probe sought into ‘forced’
retirement of Levies employees
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR. The retired personnel of the Levies force from Chitral have called for an inquiry commission to probe the irregularities into the forced retirement of employees.
Talking to The News on Tuesday, Chairman, Pasban Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Jameel Warsak advocate and Secretary Information of JUI-F Chitral, Abdul Waheed, alleged that 102 Levies force employees had been forced to retire to provide opportunity to the influential to recruit their near ones. They said all the sacked employees moved the Darul-Qaza in Swat against their retirement at an early age. “The DC of Chitral and Home Department reinstated them,” Jameel said. The DC once again made forced retirement of the 59 Levies force employees on the pretext of rules 2013 as per 18thAmendment (Federally Levies Force Service Amended Rules 2013) while the rest of the employees were promoted. He alleged the DC had made 34 new appointments without placing advertisements.

Two women among four killed over family dispute in Swabi
By our correspondent
SWABI: Four blood relatives, including two women, were killed over a family dispute in mountainous Qadra village here on Tuesday, said the police. Sajid Zaman had developed rivalry with his maternal uncle Abdul Wadood over relationship of the latter with a woman. Sajid had allegedly warned Abdul Wadood of dire consequences. Lodging an FIR, injured Uzair Ali told the police that Sajid Zaman and his 18-year-old sister, Hidayat Bibi, were shot dead by Hamid Khan and Qadeem Khan inside their house. On the other hand, Abdul Wadood lodged an FIR and alleged that the deceased Sajid had killed his sister because he doubted her character. Later, he alleged, Sajid attacked his (Abdul Wadood) house, killing his wife Sahibzadgai Bibi and son Abdul Amin.

Man kills sister-in-law, lover for honour
By our correspondent
FAISALABAD: A man killed his sister-in-law and her paramour for honour at Chak 466/GB, Samundri. Imran Ahmad had contracted marriage with Tabassum about four months ago. After marriage, Imran got a job in Saudi Arabia and shifted there. In his absence, Tabassum allegedly developed relations with Faisal. On Monday night, Shahzad saw his brother Imran’s wife Tabassum and her paramour Faisal in an objectionable condition. It infuriated Shahzad and he allegedly gunned down Tabassum and her paramour. Police have registered a case and started investigation.

Rs420m released for Horse & Cattle Show
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Punjab government has released Rs420m for Horse & Cattle Show being started in the provincial metropolis from tomorrow (Thursday). The main events of the show will be held at the Fortress Stadium, while exhibition of various industries will be held at the Jillani Park. The sports programmes will be organised at the National Hockey Stadium and cultural programmes at Al-Hamra Cultural Complex. Out of the total released amount, Rs50 million will be spent on security.

Four get life-term in kidnapping case
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to four accused, including two Afghan nationals, in a kidnapping case of a cloth dealer. The ATC judge, Muhammad Zafar Khan, awarded the sentence to four accused after the prosecution proved the crime against them. The public prosecutor submitted before the court that Qadeer and Zabiullah and two Afghan nationals, Rafiullah and Deedar, were charged and arrested in the kidnapping case of local cloth dealer Azimdad, a resident of Hayatabad, on December 19, 2013. He said that as per the police report, the accused persons had kidnapped the dealer and then demanded Rs200 million ransom from the family. He stated that during the kidnapping period, the accused persons had also cut his one ear. After completion of the trial, the court awarded life imprisonment to two Afghan nationals and additional three years in Section 14 of Foreigners Act.

Two militants held, arms seized in Hangu
By our correspondent
HANGU: The police arrested two suspected militants and recovered a cache of arms from their possession in the limits of City Police Station on Tuesday. Talking to reporters, in-charge City Police Station Khanullah Khan said the police raided a house in Bagto area and arrested two militants identified as Shaheen Shah and Abid Shah. The held militants reportedly belonged to TTP, he added. He said that the police recovered an RPG-7, four mortar shells, three fuses, one rocket launcher, four pistols and two kilograms of hashish from them.

Two alleged rapists held in Bannu
By our correspondent
BANNU: The police on Tuesday arrested two persons on the charges of raping a Grade-9 student in the limits of the City Police Station, an official said. Official Gul Hameed Khan told the reporters that Khadim Ali and Farman enticed the girl and raped her after shifting her to an abandoned house. The official said the police arrested the accused.

Fake currency recovered
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A team of FIA officials of the Corporate Crime Circle Lahore led by Asif Ali Mian raided Band Road and recovered fake Pakistani currency of Rs175,000. The raiding team also arrested one accused Waqas from the spot.