Briefs...

FO reacts to JI leader’s hanging in BD
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday while reacting to execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman in Bangladesh said Pakistan has taken note of the execution.Foreign Office Spokesperson in a statement said, “As stated earlier, we have also noted the comments by the international community on the ongoing trials in Bangladesh.We are carefully monitoring the situation with regard to internal developments in that country. “As a fellow Muslim country and Saarc member, Pakistan has mutually beneficial relations with the people of Bangladesh. Our people struggled together for independence from the colonial rule. In our view, values of reconciliation, harmony and forward looking approach should guide us towards the future of peace and prosperity,” she said.

Pak defence attaché calls on Dubai police chief
DUBAI: Defence Attache of Pakistan Brigadier Rizwan Butt called on Dubai police chief Major General Khumes Matarul Mazina at Dubai Police Headquarter here on Sunday, says a statement.Both the officials agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s security institutions and Dubai Police. They also stressed the need for further augmenting cooperation and diplomatic relations between the two brotherly countries.On the occasion, Brigadier Rizwan Butt and Khumes Matarul Mazina exchanged commemoration shields.

Four injured in Quetta clash
QUETTA: Five people were injured in a clash in Pashtoonabad area of provincial capital on Sunday.Police said that two rival groups attacked each with sticks over an old feud, leaving four people injured.The injured were rushed to civil hospital where the victims were identified as Asadullah, Shah Muhammad, Attah Muhammad and Ameenullah. Police registered a case and started investigation.

JI not serious in by-polls, says MQM
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The MQM has alleged that the Jamaat-e-Islami instead of presenting its programme in the public meeting had delivered provocative speeches against the Muttahida which is a clear indication that the JI was trying to spread violence and not serious in the by-polls. In a statement issued here on Sunday, a spokesman for the MQM said that his party would continue to pursue MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s policy based on peace and non-violence. He said that terrorists, like Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, were arrested from the houses of the JI leaders in the past. The MQM spokesman said that the JI chief had not uttered a single word against the Taliban in his address to the Sunday’s public meeting. He said that the JI had done nothing for the people of Karachi during its tenure before the formation of the MQM some 40 years ago. He said that the quota system was a gift of the JI era.

Poppy crop destroyed in Bajaur Agency
By our correspondent
KHAR: The tribesmen along with officials of the political administration destroyed poppy crop in Barang tehsil of Bajaur Agency on Sunday.
The sources said that poppy had been cultivated on 350 acres of land in Barang tehsil in Bajaur tribal region.The officials of the political administration held meetings with the tribesmen and asked them to destroy the crop.
The Tribespeople destroyed the crop on 170 acres land in Aseel Targhao and Dan Asghar areas.The elders lauded the government for launching development projects in tribal areas, saying that such steps would discourage poppy cultivation in Bajaur tribal region.

‘PML-Q to become party to judicial commission’
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q has on Sunday announced to be party to the judicial commission. It also announced providing proofs of electoral rigging to the judicial commission regarding General Elections 2013.According to a press statement issued here, PML-Q has directed all the ticket-holders and party leaders to present proofs to the judicial commission. Khalid Ranjha will head the PML-Q’s legal team.

Five artistes killed, four injured in accident
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: Five artistes were killed while four others sustained injuries in an accident near Dera Shah Jamal on Sunday. A group of nine artistes were on their way to Lahore by a van after performing in a marriage function in Hafizabad when their vehicle collided with an earth-loaded vehicle. As a result, Azhar, Amin, Wilayat, Sheraz and Aslam died on the spot while Kalsoom, Sonia, Tanzeela and Sikandar sustained injuries and rushed to the DHQ Hospital. Kot Ladha police have registered a case. Investigation Officer of the case SI Shakir told reporters that the accident took place as dacoits were chasing the artistes van and in an attempt to avoid them, the van collided with the other vehicle.

Man kills elder brother over
property dispute in Lahore
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A 35-year-old man was shot dead by his younger brother in Gujjarpura on Sunday, following a property dispute. He was identified as Muhammad Tariq. Police said accused Alyas had nursed grudge against his elder brother Tariq over a property issue. On the day of incident, Alyas had an exchange of hot words with his elder brother over the issue and shot and wounded him. Tariq was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced brought dead. Police shifted the body to morgue for autopsy and registered a case against Alyas.

Bullet-riddled bodies found in Tank
By our correspondent
TANK: Police recovered two bullet-riddled bodies believed to be of militants in Raghzai village in the limits of Gomal Bazaar Police Station, sources said on Sunday. The slain were identified as Waseem Khan and Attaullah. When contacted, the police expressed ignorance about the occurrence of firing incident. However, local sources said a bloody clash had erupted between the militants and local peace committee members in the village. The sources added that as a result of exchange of fire, two people were killed. The police registered the case and started an investigation.

Action against agri tax defaulters ordered
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Senior Member Board of Revenue Nadeem Ashraf presided over a full board meeting at committee room of Punjab Revenue Department. Nadeem Ashraf directed the board members to take strict action against agri tax defaulters and show no leniency to them. He said unilateral action should be taken in case of any negligence in recovery. He said due to surprise visits, the problems of people are being resolved in a better way throughout the province. He said decisions of pending cases are also being taken timely which is yielding encouraging results. He directed a campaign should be launched at district level for the collection of agriculture and other taxes. Nadeem Ashraf said that revenue officers should complete their targets before the end of financial year.

‘99 human traffickers arrested’
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) claimed to have arrested around 99 human traffickers, including 27 proclaimed offenders (POs), in the month of March 2015. According to sources, the AHTC finalised over 150 cases during the previous one month. Besides, the court imposed Rs 935,000 fine on different cases of AHTC in March.

Seminary student commits suicide
By our correspondent
HAFIZABAD: A student of a local seminary committed suicide on Sunday. Hafiz Adnan, 17, son of Nazir, student of a local seminary, of Dera Maskeen Shah committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope in the house of his relative in Mohallah Rehmatabad. The motive behind the suicide could not be ascertained so far.

Two-year-old girl killed in accident
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A two-year-old girl was killed by a tractor-trolley in the Manawan area on Sunday. The girl identified as Areeba along with her parents was crossing the road when a rashly driven tractor-trolley crushed her to death. Police arrested the driver who was later identified as Ishfaq and registered a case against him on the complaint of the victim’s father Saleem.

Roof collapse injures three
HAFIZABAD: Three people were injured when an under-construction roof of a shop collapsed on them on Sunday in Hafizabad. The work at the shop of Amjad Mushtaq was underway when its roof fell down, leaving Amjad, Ibrar Ahmad and another man injured critically. They were rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Child’s body found in Hafizabad
By our correspondent
HAFIZABAD: The body of a four-year-old child was found from a field near Mohallah Farooq-e-Azam, Pindi Bhattian. According to police sources, the kid unidentified so far was abducted and then was throttled to death by kidnappers.

Man killed in accident
By our correspondent
HAFIZABAD: A 40-year-old man died when he fell from a moving tractor-trolley on Sunday. The man not identified so far was going to Jalalpur Bhattian from Vanike Tarar in a tractor trolley. When he reached near Khana Bhattian, he fell down and died.

Paramedics’ rally in Lahore today
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The paramedical staff of teaching hospitals under the banner of Punjab Paramedical Alliance (PPA) will hold a rally and stage a sit-in at Faisal Chowk in front of Punjab Assembly on Monday (today). The paramedics will start rally from Jinnah Hospital to Faisal Chowk. The paramedics of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Services Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital will join the rally to finally stage a sit-in at Chairing Cross.The PPA leaders said Punjab government had not given service structure to grade-1 to Grade-4 employees, while implementation on promised service structure of grade-5 to grade-17 paramedics was stopped.

70 disabled people given certificates
By our correspondent
LANDIKOTAL: Fata authorities have issued certificates to 70 disabled people of Khyber Agency to help them get jobs and other privileges at various government departments. A ceremony was held at Jamrud Jirga Hall where local elders, education officials and family members of disabled people from Khyber Agency were present. Agency Education Officer Attiqur Rehman gave 70 people the special persons’ certificates dully attested and approved by the health and administration officials. Speaking on the occasion, president of special persons union in Khyber Agency Niaz Bahadar Afridi said that the government should provide them skill training and higher education facilities. He said the government had allotted quota for all minorities in Pakistan but disabled people had been left at the mercy of Allah.