Briefs...

MQM to become party to JC on rigging probe
KARACHI: MQM has decided to become a party to the Judicial Commission formed to investigate allegations of rigging in the General Election 2013.MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar has written a letter to CJP, who is also the chairman of the judicial commission. Although the MQM had certain reservations on the formation of the JC, yet it will present its point of view before the commission.The MQM will apprise the commission of rigging and other irregularities.

Five awarded death sentence
KHAIRPUR: Five men were awarded death sentences on 10 counts by Anti-Terrorism Court and each were fined to pay Rs 1.5 million, in a murder case, on Wednesday.ATC judge Kausar Ali Bukhari heard the case and announced the judgement. The case was tried inside Central Jail Sukkur. The convicts who were handed down the capital punishments included Allah Dad Narejo, Mithal Narejo, Munawer Narejo, Ranjhan Narejo and Gulbahar Mahesar. In default of payment of fine each of them would have to serve one year imprisonment.According to prosecution they were charged with attacking Ghanwar Khan Narejo near Ahmedpur (district Khairpur) in 2009 as a result, of which five people including Ali More Narejo, Sinkander Nizar Narejo and two women Imam Khatoon, Jeejal Khatoon Narejo were killed. Two others Umedan Narejo and Seengar Narejo sustained injuries in the firing

Two convicts to be hanged in Gujranwala today
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: Two murder convicts will be hanged in the Central Jail here today (Thursday). The convicts are Abdul Jabbar and Ejaz Ahmad. They will be hanged in the presence of a magistrate, a doctor and the jail officers. The convicts in the last meeting with their families advised them to lead a pious life and follow the tenets of Islam. Regretting their acts, the convicts also advised their families to control their anger and avoid scuffles.

German naval chief calls on Gen Rashad Mahmood
RAWALPINDI: Chief of the German Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, visited the Joint Staff Headquarters, Chaklala, here on Wednesday and called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Rashad Mahmood. According to ISPR, during the meeting, both the dignitaries discussed matters related to mutual cooperation and the emerging geo-strategic environment and security situation.

Senior cop removed from post
after verbal clash in Peshawar
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Hayatabad, was removed after his alleged verbal clash with a relative of a high-profile official, a source said on Wednesday. The inspector general of police (IGP) removed the ASP Hayatabad, Imran, following complaints by the relative of a senior KP government official. He had claimed that the cop had misbehaved with him the other night when he was driving a car in Hayatabad. On the other hand, police officials claimed the complainant himself had misbehaved with police officials and tried to influence them by referring two of his close relatives, serving on senior positions. An inquiry has been ordered into the matter. “Proper action would be taken if the policemen did anything wrong. Also, if the ASP proved correct, he would be reposted in Hayatabad and a case lodged against the complainant,” said an official.

Police fire warning shots to break up protest in Jamrud
By our correspondent
JAMRUD: The police fired warning shots to break up a protest near the Regi Lalma Township on Wednesday. The Kukikhail tribesmen had organised a protest rally against the Regi Lalma Township. However, the police fired shots into the air when the protesters started marching towards the township. Two protesters sustained injuries in the stampede triggered by the police firing. Talking to The News, organisers of the protest, including Barkat Khan, Sarwar Khan and Irfan, claimed that the protest was peaceful. They termed the police action an act of provocation.

Protest against negligence of doctors
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: Relatives of a newly born baby, who died in hospital, on Wednesday staged a sit-in front of the Peshawar Press Club against the alleged negligence of doctors. Habib Khan, the father of the baby, who led the protest, told reporters that he brought his wife Islam Bibi for delivery to the Khyber Teaching Hospital. However, he alleged the doctors on duty refused to examine the woman and were asking for identity card of her husband who went for a funeral. After spending three hours in the hospital, they shifted the woman to Lady Reading Hospital where she was operated but the doctors failed to save the baby. Habib Khan said the doctors told him if his wife was operated in time, the baby could have been saved. He demanded the authorities concerned to take notice of negligence.

Terror accused, extortionist arrested
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Counter Terrorist Department on Wednesday arrested a tribesman who was involved in at least four terrorist attacks in the past, officials said. An official of the CTD said Taj Muhammad of Khyber Agency was arrested during an action in Badaber. The official said the accused was involved in at least four attacks in the past. Also, another Taj Mohammad of Tirah Khyber Agency was arrested from the Ring Road. He was involved in making extortion calls to a local from Bakhshi Pul, Khan Muhammad.

Two revenue officials arrested for graft
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Officials of the Anti-corruption Establishment Wednesday arrested two official of the Revenue Department on charges of corruption. An official of the Establishment Muhammad Tayyab told reporters that taking action on the complaint of Khan Said, the official of the Anti-Corruption Establishment arrested patwari Ahmad Shah and Aslam for allegedly taking bribes from the complainant. He said they also recovered the bribe money from both the officials and lodged a case against them.

Woman among four held in hotel raid
RAWALPINDI: The City Police on Wednesday raided a hotel and arrested four accused, including three males and one female, found involved in immoral activities. Police spokesman said that Pirwadahi police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a raid at the Sada Bahar Hotel that had been turned into a brothel for the last few months and netted the hotel manager Noor Raza, Shaukat Mehmood, Tariq Ahmed and Nagama for their alleged involvement in illegal activities. Six bottles of liquor were also recovered from their possession. Cases have been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.

Four kg of explosives seized in Kohat
By our correspondent
KOHAT: The police arrested an outlaw and seized four kilograms of explosive from him near the Kohat Toll Plaza in the limits of Saddar Police Station on Wednesday. Police said that acting on a tip-off, the police signaled a vehicle to stop and on thorough search, four kilograms of explosive were recovered from the vehicle. The police arrested the accused identified as Sher Nawaz and shifted him to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

PML-N activists join PTI
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Several activists of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday announced joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Former district nazim Ashfaq Ahmad along with family members, friends and supporters quit the PML-N and announced joining the PTI during a function held here.

Traffic chaos in Lahore as blind people stage demonstration
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A large number of bind people staged a protest in front of the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday and blocked the roads for many hours. At around 4pm, a large number of protesters started gathering in front of the press club. They blocked the main Chowk leading to Davis Road and Duran Road. As a result, the traffic load shifted to other roads. Traffic remained suspended at the Davis Road, Durand Road, Empress Road, Abbot Road, Allama Iqbal Road and other roads. Wardens established diversions at the roads and shifted the traffic to other roads. The protesters chanted slogans for their demands. A protester, Zain, said the blind people needed jobs but the government did nothing for them. Mubeen, another protester, said they were protesting for their rights.

Death warrants for two brothers issued in Gujranwala
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: The Anti-Terrorism Court No-2 judge on Wednesday issued death warrants for two brothers for April 22. The brothers - Abid Maqsood and Sanaullah alias Billu - will be hanged in the Sialkot Jail. The convicts had gang-raped a class 10 student at Begowala on August 29, 1997. They were awarded death sentence by the then ATC No-2 judge Ch Shafiq on June 24, 1999. The Lahore High Court had rejected their appeal on May 31, 2000 and the Supreme Court on September 19, 2006 while the president had also rejected their appeal.

Protest staged against proposed privatisation of Wapda
By our correspondent
MULTAN: Members of the Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union on Wednesday staged a demonstration and staged a sit-in in front of the Mepco Headquarter against proposed privatisation of the Wapda and distribution companies including the Mepco. Addressing the protesters, the union’s leaders including regional chairman Ghulam Rasool, zonal president Ch Khalid, Ch Younas, Sajjad Baloch, Shakeel Baloch, Mehr Altaf and Abdul Samad rejected the proposed privatisation of the Wapda and distribution companies. They warned that if the decision implemented, they would disconnect power supply for indefinite period. The protesters said that privatisation of electricity had proved a failure and one of the examples was K-Electric Company. Meanwhile, protests against the proposed privatisation were also organised at Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar khan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari and other areas.

Protest staged in TT Singh against killing of prisoner
By our correspondent
TOBA TEK SINGH: Relatives of a prisoner, who was allegedly tortured to death by jail officials, Wednesday staged a demonstration against the killing. The demonstrators set fire to tyres on Rajana road, leaving traffic disrupted for one hour. They said deceased Mustafa was arrested in a case registered under sections 406 and 401 of the PPC and was sent to district jail on judicial remand on February 23. They said Mustafa was tortured to death in the jail and his body was shifted to the DHQ hospital. Later, they ended the protest on the assurance of the city police officials that an inquiry would be conducted into the killing of the deceased. When contacted, assistant superintendent jail Asif Murtaza denied allegations, saying that Mustafa fell ill and died on the way to the hospital.

Woman raped in Pakpattan
By our correspondent
PAKPATTAN: A woman was raped in village Chook Marlay on Wednesday. Accused Muhammad Sabir along with one accomplice entered house of (W) and raped her. Meanwhile, accused Aamar entered house of (A) of Chak 79/D and tried to rape her. When she raised a hue and cry, the accused fled.

Girl gang-raped in Chakwal
By our correspondent
CHAKWAL: A girl was gang-raped at Three Marla Scheme on Wednesday. The daughter of Dilawar Khan was on her way to a field when accused Ahtesham Haidar, his brother Mubashir Nazeer and Talmeez Hussain intercepted her and took her to a house where all three accused allegedly gang-raped her.