Briefs...

Karak residents demand utilities
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Khattak Ittehad Thursday organised a demonstration in front of the Peshawar Press Club, demanding provision of gas, electricity and drinking water in most parts of Karak district.Led by former provincial minister Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel, the protesters chanted slogans against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal governments for not releasing development funds to Karak district, which is rich in natural gas, oil and other mineral resources.

Renowned poet Ada Jafri passes away
News Desk
KARACHI: Renowned poet and author Ada Jafri passed away after a brief illness here on Thursday. She was 90.Her actual name was Aziz Jehan. She wrote the famous ghazal “Honton Pa Kabhi Unke Mera Naam Hii Aey” that was sung by late Ustaad Amanat Ali. She was born on August 22, 1924 in Badayun, India.Ada Jafri was among the first modern women poets who published her work which is why she was called “the first lady of Urdu poetry”. She was married to Noorul Hassan in January 1947 and after partition migrated to Pakistan. Her first collection “Mein Saaz Dhoondti Rahi” was published in 1950.

Man held for trying to enter LHC CJ’s courtroom with knife
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Security personnel at the Lahore High Court arrested a man who was trying to enter the courtroom of Chief Justice Khwaja Imtiaz Ahmad with a knife. The personnel recovered the knife from accused Zubair Ahmad during a routine search of litigants outside the CJ’s courtroom. The personnel handed over the man to Old Anarkali police for further action. The security officials of the high court claimed that the man had a plan to attack the Chief Justice.

Peshawar Police present alleged militant before media
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The city police on Thursday produced an alleged militant before media at the Chamkani Police Station.The police said they had arrested Hazrat Ali after an exchange of fire. They said the arrestee belonged to a banned militant organisation and the government had announced Rs500,000 head money for his capture. An official said the police received a tip-off regarding his presence in the area and later a heavy contingent raided the venue and arrested the wanted man. The official said the accused was wanted by the police in several attacks on the police and other terrorism cases.

Three sisters killed in Dargai roof collapse
By Tahir Khan Azikhel
BATKHELA: Three sisters were killed and four other members of a family were wounded when a roof collapsed in Dargai tehsil in Malakand Agency on Thursday, sources said. The sources said that the roof of the house of Salim Khan caved in Dargai tehsil in which his three daughters identified as Humama Bibi (16), Umayya Bibi (10) and Javeriya Bibi (8) were killed on the spot while he, his wife and two sons included Abdul Zahoor and Mubbashir were wounded. Following the incident, the locals rushed to the spot and started rescue operation and shifted the injured to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Dargai where condition of some of the injured was stated to be precarious.

55 suspects held, narcotics
and arms seized in Charsadda
By our correspondent
CHARSADDA: The police arrested 50 suspected persons, including 21 proclaimed offenders (POs), during raids in Tangi tehsil on Thursday, official sources said. They said that the police carried out search operation in various areas of Tangi tehsil and arrested 50 suspects, including 21 POs, and recovered 14 Kalashnikovs, 28 pistols and four kilograms of heroin from their possession. The operation was headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Usman Khan while station house officers of all police stations in Tangi tehsil took part in the operation.

Land acquired for new campus of Swabi varsity
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The University of Swabi acquired 1401 kanal land for construction of new campus. Speaking at a gathering, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Swabi Prof Dr Noor Jehan appreciated the efforts of the government in acquiring land for the university. She said it would prove a milestone towards advancements of research and higher education. Dr Noor Jehan highlighted the importance of higher education for the people of the area and stressed that opening of educational institutions in every district would guarantee peace and prosperity.

Registration of SWA IDPs completed
By our correspondent
TANK: Registration for repatriation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from South Waziristan Agency completed here on Thursday, official sources said.They said that 41,170 persons registered themselves to return to their native areas in SWA. The sources said that Rs10,000 per family were paid to the returning tribes people while Rs25,000 would be paid through ATM cards at their native villages. The families were also assured provision of free transport to their villages. The sources said that the repatriation process would start on March 16. Around 400,000 tribespeople had left their homes and shifted to Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Bannu after the operation Rah-e-Nijat was launched in 2009.

Two arrested with 44kg of heroin in Kohat
By our correspondent
KOHAT: The police arrested two alleged drug-traffickers and seized 44 kilogram of heroin from their possession on Indus Highway in the limits of Jarma Police Station on Thursday, official sources said. They said that acting on a tip-off, the police barricaded road near Sur Gul Chowk on Indus Highway and signalled a Quetta-bound vehicle (LE-9036) to stop. On thorough search, the police recovered 44 kg of heroin from the hidden cavities of the vehicle. The police arrested the drug-traffickers identified as Samad Khan and Baloch Khan and started investigation after registering the case.

Grenade lobbed at DI Khan house
By our correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Unidentified persons attacked the house of a trader in Khayaban Habib locality in the limits of Gomal University Police Station on Thursday, official sources said. They said that unidentified persons lobbed a hand-grenade into the house of Manzoor Khan Burki. However, it caused no loss of life or property. Manzoor said he received a call from an unknown person asking for extortion last month. The police collected the pieces of evidence.

One held for power theft
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A team of FIA comprising Inspector Tariq Dhilon and ASI Malik Tahir conducted a raid on a printing press in Garhi Shahu on Thursday and detected electricity through a dummy meter. The FIA team raided the press where electricity was being stolen through a dummy meter. An original meter was recovered from the premises of the printing press. Owners were supplying electricity to a car showroom through a sub-meter.