Briefs...

Kohistan elders promise ban on poppy cultivation
By our correspondent
MANSEHRA: The elders in Kohistan on Wednesday announced not to allow anyone to cultivate poppy and pledged to hand over the violators to police. The decision was taken at a jirga, which was held in the District Council Hall. The elders assured the police that nobody would be allowed to cultivate poppy. Those who violated the jirga decision would be taken to justice under the law, they added. The jirga, which was also attended by representatives of police, said that local community would also help police in curbing cultivation of poppy.

Price of hepatitis-C drug reduced
By our correspondent
Islamabad: The government on Wednesday announced reduction in the price of the breakthrough drug for treatment of Hepatitis-C, Sovaldi, from its current price of Rs55,000 to Rs32,300 per bottle.“The Ministry of National Health Services, in view of the growing epidemic of Hepatitis C in the country, moved quickly to register the drug last month and allowed its import into the country. The measure will benefit over 10 million Hepatitis C patients across Pakistan. The Ministry is taking measures to ensure that adequate quantity of the drug is available to patients within 6 weeks,” a press release issued by the ministry here on Wednesday states.Over 3,000 patients have, in the last couple of months, initiated treatment on Sovaldi.

Militant arrested in DI Khan
By our correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Police claimed to have arrested a militant in Malana village here on Wednesday. Police sources said that a militant was arrested in Malana village in the limits of Gomal Police Station and four hand grenades were recovered from his possession.

Three militants among eight suspects held in Bannu
By our correspondent
BANNU: The security forces arrested eight suspected persons, including three militants, in search operation in Kakki subdivision on Wednesday, the sources said.The sources said that the security forces launched a door-to-door search operation in Kakki subdivision early in the day. The sources said that security forces arrested three militants and five suspected persons and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition. The detained militants and suspects were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

SHRC chief visits Chandka hospital
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: Chairperson of Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Justice (R) Majida Razvi, accompanied by Syed Gul Munir Shah, a former district and sessions judge, paid a surprise visit to different units of the Chandka Medical College Hospital. She also visited the emergency unit, the cardiology department and the administration block.She expressed her resentments over the absence of the MLO in the emergency ward. Justice Razvi directed the hospital administration to ensure quality health services to poor patients.The chairperson of the SHRC told the media persons that the objective of her visit was to monitor human rights violations in hospitals and other institutions.On the occasion she received a number of complaints on non-availability of medicines in the emergency department.

Cop commits suicide in Lahore over money issue
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A 32-year-old constable (wireless operator) committed suicide by taking poisonous pills here on Wednesday. Constable Shahid was posted at IG office and lived in the Nawankot area. Police said that Shahid was depressed over money he had borrowed from different people and domestic issues with his wife. On the day of the incident, he swallowed poisonous pills. As a result, his condition went critical. He was rushed to a local hospital where he died. He was father of two daughters.

Wapda employees’ protest continues
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union here on Wednesday continued their protest against the proposal to privatize Wapda. Employees in Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Ghotki, Nausharoferoz and other cities took out protest rallies and staged a token hunger strike outside the office of the executive engineer. They said that the government instead of privatizing Wapda should ensure overhauling and rehabilitation of the grid station to increase power generation.