Briefs...

FC Balochistan arrests 11 suspects
QUETTA: Frontier Corps (FC) arrested 11 suspects during law-enforcement action taken in different areas of the province on Monday. Official sources said the FC personnel raided a place in Kech Turbat and arrested two suspects. “The FC teams conducted raids in Mach area and arrested eight suspects,” they said. An alleged militant was also arrested from Jowan area. Further probe was underway.

Corruption on decline in KP, says ACE chief
By our correspondent
MANSEHRA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Director General Ziaullah Toru has said corruption in the province has declined to a great extent compared to other provinces due to dedicated efforts by his department. This he stated while speaking at a meeting which was attended by in-charge and assistant directors of 25 districts here on Monday. He said that last year the establishment arrested more than 900 corrupt officials and recovered misappropriated amounting to Rs1.3 billion from them. The ACE chief said the government gave a free hand to the establishment to bring the plunderers to justice and he was optimistic that KP circles would arrest corrupt. The assistant directors presented their performance of the previous years and set the targets for the year 2015-16.

‘49,800 evacuated so far from flood-hit areas’
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: Pakistan Army has evacuated some 49,800 people from flood-hit areas so far. Garrison Commander Bahawalpur Maj-General Sadiq Ali was briefed in Bangla Kusha in Rahim Yar Khan when he was reviewing the relief and rescue arrangements. He expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements. The Garrison Commander was told that a free medical camp by the Pak Army is working at Chacharran near the dyke on the River Sindh and about 300 patients had been extended medical help. He was told that more than 300 ration packets have been distributed in flood-hit areas by the Pakistan Army jawans.

Love marriage couple commits suicide
By our correspondent
FAISALABAD: A newly-married couple committed suicide on receiving threats from their parents at Chak 429/GB on Monday. Abdur Razzaq had contracted love marriage with Humera Bibi some months ago against the wishes of their families. Their parents had been threatening them of dire consequences. On the day of the incident, Razzaq and his wife Humera ended their lives by swallowing poisonous pills. Meanwhile, a boy of Dijkot and a girl of Chak 378/TB, Rodala Road, also committed suicide in separate incidents.

Rain lashes Nankana
By our correspondent
NANKANA SAHIB: The city and its adjoining areas received heavy rain on Monday. The rain started early in the morning and continued for many hours with regular intervals. The rainwater inundated various roads of different areas including Housing Colony, Zeeshan Town, Shad Bagh Colony, Doctors Bazaar and Goal Chowk, created problems for the people. Meanwhile, heaps of garbage caused problems for the people.

Two killed in Nowshera clash
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Two persons were killed when two rival groups traded fire over a property dispute in Jalozai area on Monday, official sources said. They said that there was a property dispute between two groups headed by Ansar Ali and Amir Zeb. On the day of the incident, they traded fire. As a result, Jehanzeb from Amir Zeb group and Waqas from Ansar Ali group were killed on the spot. The police arrested Ansar Ali and started investigation after registering cases against the groups.

Fine imposed on bakeries, food outlets
By our correspondent
BAHAWALPUR: Assistant Commissioner Rao Tasleem Akhtar and deputy district health officer Dr Zeeshan Rauf Monday imposed Rs 150,000 fine on different bakeries, sweet shops and restaurants of the city under the Punjab Food Authority Act. The authorities also sealed a sweet shop on charges of unhygienic conditions in the outlet’s premises.

CTD barred from harassing JUI-F member
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday stopped authorities of Counter Terrorism Department from harassing JUI (F) Majlis-e-Shoora member Saqib Farooqi and asked them to produce incriminating material, if any, against him before the court on next date of hearing. The court adjourned the hearing for August 24. Farooqi submitted before the court that CTD Jaranwala was raiding again and again to arrest him on the pretext of associating him with sectarianism. He said already at three times the police had put him on fourth schedule which the Lahore High Court declared illegal. He said now the police again raided his house to put him on fourth schedule. He said he was a political worker and had nothing to do with sectarianism. He requested the court to direct the CTD not to harass him and refrain from raiding his house.

Action against Altaf demanded
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Anjuman Fidayan Mustafa (AFM) office bearers condemned MQM chief Altaf Hussain for making an objectionable speech against the armed forces and Pakistan ideology, demanding the government to repatriate him to Pakistan with the help of Interpol since he has now become an enemy of Pakistan. Addressing a seminar on Monday in connection with Urs celebrations of Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, AFM leaders Hafiz Akbar Jatoi, JUP leader Dr Mufti Najeeb Ahmad Hashmi, Muhammad Hanif Chishti, Ashraf Raza Qadri, Mufti Khurshid Siddiqi, Maulana Saqib Naqshbandi, Sufi Saeed Ahmad Chishti and others warned the government that if did not take actions against the enemies of the state and nation, than situation would become worse. They warned the MQM leadership did not deserve any concessions, adding that action should also be taken against MQM Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ebad.

Food brands sealed, fined in Lahore
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) continued its operation against restaurants and food manufacturers across the city here Monday, sealed several renowned brands for unhygienic conditions and imposed fine on the owners. Officials said a special squad of PFA under the supervision of its Director Operations Ayesha Mumtaz carried out a raid on Shezan International Bund Road and sealed its pickle manufacturing section. They said pickle section of the factory was sealed owing to fungal growth in raw carrots and turnips to be used for preparing pickle. They said there was open drain in pickle section, improper screening of pickle processing area. They said that female food handlers/workers were working without medical certificates. Officials said several restaurants and other food outlets were also sealed and fined in the city during routine checking.

More rain for Lahore forecast
By our correspondent
LAHORE: More rain with chances of thunder is expected in the provincial metropolis on Tuesday (today). A seasonal low lies over northwest Balochistan and its adjoining areas. Under the influence of the low pressure, monsoon currents are penetrating the upper parts of the country and likely to continue in coming days. In the next 24 hours, rain-thundershower is expected at scattered places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, upper FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, while at isolated places in Faisalabad, Sahiowal, Bahawalpur, Bannu and D.I.Khan divisions. Isolated heavy falls are expected in Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions and Kashmir during the period. The maximum temperature in the country was 43°C at Nokundi. In addition to 8mm in Lahore, other parts of the country where it rained were: Mianwali 139, Joharabad 86, Chakwal 40 Islamabad (Saidpur39, Golra 19), Balakot, Murree 33, Garhiduppata27, Faisalabad 26, Noorpurthal 20, Parachinar 18, Muzaffarabad 17.

Security guard stabbed to death
By our correspondent
JARANWALA: A security guard was killed by unidentified people at a petrol pump at Chak Ghaseetpura in Balochni police limits on Sunday night.
Mian Muhammad Qasim of Chak 92 was on duty at a petrol pump when unidentified people came there and stabbed him to death.

Militant killed in Kohat clash
By our correspondent
KOHAT: A militant was killed in a clash with the local peace committee members in the Sipah area near here, local sources said on Monday. They said that militants from Orakzai Agency entered the Sipah area. Local peace body members chased the militants who opened fire on the peace committee members. A militant identified as Mushtaq was killed in the exchange of fire.


HAFIZABAD: City police on Monday booked 13 people for triple murder. Those booked include
Adnan alias Dani, Nasir, Noman, Ghulam Shabbir and Tariq. They had allegedly killed Qaisar Chaddar, Faisal and Afzal on Sunday.