Briefs...

One killed, tribal elder injured in Bajaur blast
By our correspondent
KHAR: A tribesman was killed and two others sustained injuries in an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device outside a mosque in Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency, official sources said on Friday. The sources said that a tribal elder Malik Sadiq Jan and his nephew Said Arif were leaving the mosque after Asr prayer when the blast occurred. They said Said Arif died on spot and Malik Sadiq Jan and another tribesman Ihsanullah sustained injuries. The injured were taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khan town for treatment. The security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation after the explosion. It isn’t known if any arrests were made.

Two militants arrested in Hangu
By our correspondent
HANGU: The police arrested two alleged militants here on Friday, official said. Station House Officer of City Police Station Amjad Hussain told reporters that the police arrested two persons on Somarhi Road while committing armed robbery. The accused identified as Ali Haider and Sher Nawaz had confessed affiliation with a group of militants, he added.

Linesman held in Lahore for taking bribe
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A raid was conducted by a Sub-Inspector of FIA Anti Corruption Circle Lahore under the supervision of Special Judicial Magistrate Amir Raza Baittoo and held an accused for taking bribe. According to an FIA official, the accused was identified as Sajid Mahmood, Lineman of Lesco, Sub Division, Okara, while taking Rs. 13,000 as gratification from one complainant named Malika Tayyaba for removing LT line passing over her house.

Toppers visit University of Lancaster
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The high achievers girl and boy students sent by the Punjab government on a study tour visited University of Lancaster, UK, where they visited various departments of the university. According to a handout issued on Friday the students expressing their keen interest paid rich tribute to the vision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. They thanked the Punjab government for sending them on a foreign tour and providing other facilities.

One held, kidnapped person recovered in Nowshera
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: The police recovered an abducted person and arrested one of the kidnappers in Pabbi, police said on Friday. They said that one Sartaj had been kidnapped from Haryana area in Peshawar and was kept at a house in Khattakabad in Choki Drab. The police raided the area after receiving information and arrested the alleged kidnapper Sahar Gul and recovered the abducted person. The kidnapper was shifted to an undisclosed location for an interrogation.

IG Sindh restores 35 SHOs
By our correspondent
SUKKUR: The IGP Sindh has restored 35 station house officers after taking a notice of their suspension by DIG Larkana. Sources said that that DIG Larkana Sain Rakhio Mirani had suspended 35 SHOs of different police stations because those SHOs were appointed by SSP Larkana without the approval and consent of the DIG. Sources said that the IGP Sindh immediately took a notice of the action of DIG Larakana and issued new orders and ordered the SHOs to carry on their duties on same stations.

Unannounced loadshedding in Charsadda protested
By our correspondent
CHARSADDA: The activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Friday staged protest against the unannounced power outages and demanded reduction in duration of the power cuts. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the federal government and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). They gathered outside the Charsadda Press Club to stage the protest. QWP district chairman and Member Provincial Assembly Arshad Umarzai was leading the protest rally. The PTI and QWP leadership had given the call for the protest.The speakers said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was producing surplus electricity but was being subjected to excessive power cuts.

Banned SSP Islamabad president hurt in attack
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: President of Islamabad chapter of banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Maulana Ghulam Mustafa Baloch, wounded critically when bike-riding gunmen opened firing at him near Iqbal Hall in G-7/3 on Friday night, police said. He was shifted to the Poly Clinic hospital where he was stated to be in stable position. Maulana Ghulam Mustafa Baloch was going to offer Taravih when two bike riding gunmen intercepted him and opened firing at him, police said adding that the attackers shot four bullets but the victim received one bullet on his shoulder. The police have taken up the case and started searching the attackers.

Arrest warrants for Lahore SHO, 16 other cops issued
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Additional District and Sessions Judge Naseem Ahmed Virk on Friday issued arrest warrants for the SHO Lorri-Adda and 16 other police officials for not complying with the court orders. The court has directed the authorities concerned to make sure the arrest of said officials and produce them before the court on next hearing. As per case details, the court had summoned the SHO and other officials to appear before the court and record their statements as prosecution witnesses regarding a murder case pending before the court but they did not bother to comply with the court orders. The continuous non-compliance of the police officials forced the judge to issue their arrest warrants.

Elderly couple with 40kg charas arrested from train
By our correspondent
PAKPATTAN: The Railway Police arrested a seriously injured man and woman with 40 kg of charas as they tried to smuggle the contraband to Karachi. The accused Saleh Muhammad, 60, and his wife Ameeran Bibi, 52, of Wazir Colony, Okara, boarded the Karachi-bound Baba Farid Express. During the journey, ASI Khadim Hussain and his colleagues found the charas as they searched their bags. At this, Saleh jumped from train near Chak 15/EB and disappeared in the fields despite being seriously injured. The Railway Police stopped train using emergency break and hunt down the accused help of villagers. The injured accused was rushed to the DHQ Hospital Pakpattan where he told the police that they were unemployed and a person Wali Muhammad Pathan had gave them the charas which was to be smuggled to Karachi from Okara.

Three killed, 55 injured in
bus-truck collision in Muzaffargarh
By our correspondent
MUZAFFARGARH: Three people were killed and 55 others injured in a collision between a bus and a truck on National Highway near Hamzawali on Friday. A bus was coming from Karachi when it collided with a truck due to overspeeding. As a result, Tayyab, Adnan of Gujjar Khan and Esa Khan were killed on the spot and 55 others, including Tasleem Bibi, Manzar Muhammad, Qaisra Bibi, Muhammad Javed, Shahid, Aslam and Lubna Bibi, were injured. The injured people were shifted to a hospital.

Three killed as train hits bike at unmanned level crossing
By our correspondent
HAFIZABAD: Three friends were killed when a train hit their motorcycle at an unmanned level crossing near Kot Nakka Branch Canal on Wazirabad railway section on Friday. Qamar Zaman (18), Ameer Hamza (12) and Muhammad Abbas (11), all residents of Mohallah Mughalpura, were going to the canal to beat the heat when the Pakistan Express hit their motorcycle at an unmanned level crossing. As a result, they were killed on the spot. The body of Abbas fell into the canal, which could not be recovered till the filing of the report. However, the bodies of Qamar and Ameer Hamza were shifted to the city morgue.

Faisalabad to have Rs1.5 bn 11-storeyed parking plaza
By our correspondent
FAISALABAD: The Provincial Development Working Party has approved 11-storey parking plaza at Old Mayor House outside Chiniot Bazaar at a cost of Rs 1.513 billion, said DCO Noorul Amin Mengal. Talking to newsmen here on Friday, he said that the parking plaza would consist of 610,000 square feet area and its two floors would be utilised as shopping centres. About 266 shops and 29 stores would be available on the two floors, he added. The DCO said that the parking would be available on the remaining nine floors with the parking capacity of about 1,500 cars and 3,000 motorcycles.

Labourer receives Rs30,450 power bill
By our correspondent
BHAKKAR: A labourer has protested against the Fesco for sending him an inflated bill. Talking to newsmen here, Abdul Sattar of Basti Utra said that the Fesco had sent him a bill amounting to Rs 30,450, which he was unable to pay. He said that when he visited the Fesco office, an official made its two installments instead of correcting it.

Girl injured in train accident
By our correspondent
BUREWALA: A seven-year-old girl was injured in an accident near Mujahid Colony on Friday. Sawera, a resident of Shah Faiz Park, Mujahid Colony, and the daughter of Muhammad Javed, was crossing a railway track where suddenly Fareed Express arrived and hit her. As a result, she was seriously injured and referred to the Nishtar Hospital Multan.

Breach in Hafizabad canal reported
By our correspondent
HAFIZABAD: Hundreds of acres of cotton and other crops were inundated when a 20-feet wide breach occurred in 5-L Canal near Chak 489/EB on Friday. Assistant Commissioner Saifullah Sajid and the Eater Bar Division executive engineer reached the spot and monitored the plugging process of the breach.

Killer gets death sentence in TT Singh
By our correspondent
TOBA TEK SINGH: Kamalia Additional District and Sessions Judge Jehangir Mir on Friday awarded death sentence to a man in a murder case. According to prosecution, Abdul Rashid of Chak 660/1-GB and his accomplices had shot dead a youth over a minor dispute two years ago. The court acquitted five co-accused by giving them benefit of the doubt in the same case.

Fesco linesman crushed to death
By our correspondent
TOBA TEK SINGH: A Fesco assistant lineman was crushed to death on Gojra-Samundri Road on Thursday night. Rana Muhammad Akram was on his way home by a bike when a truck hit him. As a result, he died on the spot.