Briefs

Prisoner dies in jail mysteriously

By our correspondent

LAHORE: A prisoner died in the Kot Lakhpat jail under mysterious circumstances on Monday.The victim’s family alleged that the jail administration had poisoned him to death. The family and relatives of the deceased prisoner placed the body at the Faisal Chowk and protested. The jail superintendent claimed the man had died of a heart attack. The deceased prisoner has been identified asOn the day of incident, his condition went critical. He was rushed to hospital where he died. The victim’s family received the body after post mortem and started protest against jail administration at Faisal Chowk. As a result, the traffic came to a halt for over two hours. Police highups reached the scene and assured the victim’s family of justice. 

 

Father, son killed in Akora

By our correspondent

NOWSHERA: A man and his son were killed and a minor girl sustained injuries on Monday when gunmen fired at a car in Akora Khattak, the police said.They said that the accused Shakoor and Waseem opened fire on a car, killing Riaz Khan and his son Farhan (9) on the spot while injuring his infant daughter.The motive behind the double murder was stated to be an old enmity. The accused escaped after committing the crime.

 

Free education for youth sought

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: Representatives of various civil society organizations on Monday demanded the government to ensure free education for children from five years up to 16 years of age.The activists of the Child Rights Movement, Fata Commission of Human Rights and Education Reforms Jirga staged a joint demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club to make the demand. Speakers on the occasion said that providing free education was responsibility of the government. They said on the one hand, terrorists were destroying schools while on the other the government was trying to close schools under various pretexts, particularly in Fata, which would lead to negative consequences for the society.

 

Man killed in goods truck, pick-up collision

KHUZDAR: A man was killed and eight sustained injuries in a collision between goods truck and a pick-up here on Monday. According to details a pick-up was carrying vegetables from Bela to Khuzdar. It collided with a goods truck at Achar Band on the outskirts of Khuzdar. As a result the pick-up driver Din Muhammad died instantly, while eight persons also sustained injuries.

 

Cabbies slam excessive fines

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: Taxicab drivers staged a protest on Monday, asking the government to hold an inquiry against those traffic police officials who were reportedly imposing unjustified fines on them. Led by the cabdrivers association’s senior vice-president Naeem Khan, vice-president Hazrat Shah, general secretary Syed Ali Haider Shah and joint secretary Nazir Khan, the protestors chanted slogans outside the Peshawar Press Club.They said that certain officials of the Transport Department and traffic police were collecting illegal taxes and had made life miserable for the drivers.

 

Pakistani tribesmen kidnapped in Afghanistan

By our correspondent

PARACHINAR: Armed men kidnapped four tribesmen in the Paktia province of Afghanistan, official and local sources said on Monday. The sources said that four Turi-Bangash tribesmen identified as Sabir, Sajid, Naseer and Jalal Hussain had gone to Paktia province of Afghanistan for business purpose.The sources said the tribesmen were kidnapped in Shehr-e-Naw and Sokhta areas.Officials said that the political administration was investigation the incident.

 

Woman wants her son’s killers brought to justice

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: A woman from Budhni village has appealed to the chief minister and inspector general of police to punish the killers of her son. Talking to reporters here on Monday, Salma alleged that the accused Waris, Aurangzeb and Zahor Khan called her son Qazi Shayanul Haq and his friend Ziaur Rehman to their hujra and killed Qazi on February 20. Waris Khan initially fled the scene but the police arrested him. She said the criminals were hurling threats at her now. She asked the government to take action against them.’

 

Suspects held, arms seized in FR Bannu search

By our correspondent

BANNU: The security forces on Monday arrested several suspected persons and recovered arms from them in a search operation in Frontier Region (FR) Bannu, official sources said.They said the security forces launched a search operation in Pang area in FR Bannu and made the arrests. Without giving any details about the identity or number of the arrested suspects, the source said that the held suspects had been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. 

24 Afghans held in FC, police joint operation in Quetta

QUETTA: At least 24 Afghan nationals were arrested during joint Frontier Corps (FC) and police search operation in Quetta on Monday. FC spokesman told the media that the operation was held on a tip-off received about the presence of criminal elements at Samungli Road and its adjoining areas. The spokesman revealed the detainees were failed to prove their identity while the forces also claimed to have confiscated huge cache of weapons from their possession. The interrogation from the arrested men is underway. Officials say more than 3,000 militants have been killed since the launch of the latest offensive in tribal areas.

 

Robbers kill policeman in Kuchlak

QUETTA: Unknown armed robbers shot dead a policeman and injured three security guards of Islami Bank over resistance at Chaman Raod, near Kuchlak area of the provincial capital on Monday. According to police sources, armed robbers opened fire at the bank's security guards and personnel of police as they tried to arrest them during the robbery. As a result a policeman succumbed to his injuries, while security guards received wounds. The body and the injured were shifted to civil hospital. The robbers took away cash from the bank. Levies force registered a case and started efforts to trace out the bandits.

       

PPP looting Sindh extensively: Mumtaz Bhutto

LARKANA: PML-N leader Mumtaz Ali Bhutto said on Monday that it is not an astonishing thing that the PPP leadership has now realized that no single party can look after the country.  He said in a statement that the fundamental principle of democracy is that only those who have the people’s mandate should run the country.  Mumtaz Bhutto said PPP leaders were constantly complaining why accountability was not being held in the Punjab which meant that their (the PPP leaders) looting in Sindh should continue on a large scale, adding they had nothing to do if accountability of others was carried out.  Mumtaz Bhutto said in fact no accountability had been held for the last eight years due to which massive looting of Sindh’s wealth was going on.-

 

Probe into mouse biting cases underway

LARKANA: Additional Health Secretary Dr. Aslam Pechuho arrived here on Monday along with Director of Health Services to conduct inquiry into cases of mouse biting at the Paeds Medicine Department (PMD) of the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH).  The District & Sessions Judge (DSJ), Larkana, Abdul Ghafoor Kalhoro, also arrived at the PMD and inquired about the two injured babies.  According to reports, the DSJ had directed the authorities to conduct a departmental inquiry and submit its report to him by March 16 so that cases could be registered against those found guilty of negligence.

 

Key MQM leaders go abroad on leave 

News Desk

LAHORE: Amid dissidents tirade, key MQM leaders have been found going abroad on leaves.  According to Geo News on Monday, the opposition leader in Sindh Assembly and MQM leader Kh Izharul Hasan is on leave in Dubai, Khushbakht Shujaat and Faisal Sabzawari are in the US, Irtiza Farooqi in London, and Haider Abbas Rizvi in Canada.  According to MQM spokesman, the leaders have gone abroad for their personal reasons. 

 

IHC rejects petition of FO director

By Faisal Kamal Pasha

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday dismissed a petition of a Foreign Office (FO) Director Yasir Mehmood who filed an application against a disciplinary action against him for allegedly leaking information to the media. The IHC single judge bench of Justice Aamir Farooq directed Yasir Mehmood to approach the Federal Services Tribunal (FST) for the redressal of his grievance. The petitioner had challenged the charge sheet issued against him by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleging him to leak information to reporters. The petitioner had assailed the charge sheet, arguing that he was on leave for two years and was not custodian of any official documents and further the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by initiating inquiry against him wants to cover up its wrongdoings.

 

Two die of suffocation in Nowshera

By our correspondent

NOWSHERA: Two persons died and three others fell unconscious due to suffocation in Kheshgi area, police officials said on Monday. They said that gas had accumulated in the room of Noor Hayat due to leakage. As a result, the police said, two persons, including a man and a minor girl, suffocated to death while three other persons sleeping in the room fell unconscious.  The unconscious persons were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar where their condition was stated to be critical.

 

Labourer killed in Lalamusa

By our correspondent

LALAMUSA: A labourer was killed when a pillar collapsed on him on Monday. Reportedly, Muhammad Zafar, 32, of Bhanowali village, was working when a pillar of an under-construction house fell on him at Dhama Kotla, Qasim Khan Road, leaving him dead on the spot.

 

Dacoit killed in TT Singh encounter

By our correspondent

TOBA TEK SINGH: Gojra Sadr police killed an alleged dacoit in an encounter near Chak 417/JB, Nawan Lahore, on Sunday night. Ibrar Masih was returning to Gojra from a village when two dacoits snatched cash, a motorcycle and a mobile phone from him. The victim informed police, who rushed to the spot and started chasing the dacoits. Seeing police, the dacoits opened fire on them. Police also retaliated. As a result, a dacoit, who was later identified as Mohsin Ali of Chak 303/JB, was killed on the spot while his accomplice escaped. Police have handed over the body of the dacoit to his father after completing legal formalities.

 

Anti-polio campaign begins in Gujranwala

By our correspondent

GUJRANWALA: A five-day anti-polio campaign started amid tight security here on Monday. As many as 870,000 children under five years of age would be administered polio drops during the campaign. Total 1,797 teams had been made for the drive, which would vaccinate the children at railway stations, bus stands and through door-to-door campaign. Earlier, the DCO directed all the departments concerned to cooperate with the polio teams to get the desired results. He also directed the police officers to provide necessary security to the polio teams.

 

10 top administrative slots vacant in Faisalabad

By our correspondent

FAISALABAD: Ten administrative posts have been lying vacant for the last some months in Faisalabad. The vacant posts are of the DCO, the RPO, the CTO, the EDO (F&P), the EDO (Health), the EDO (Community Development), the District Officer (Coordination), the senior admin officer, the colony assistant and the Lyallpur Town TMO. The vacant posts are affecting work on the mega projects. Due to the vacant posts, the people are also facing several problems.

 

Abid Sher Ali due in Peshawar today

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR:     Minister of State  for Water  and Power  Chaudhry  Abid Sher Ali will visit the Peshawar Electric Supply Company Headquarters, Wapda House, on the Shami Road today (Tuesday). According to a press release, the minister will hold a press conference at 1pm.

 

Policeman found dead in Jhang

By our correspondent

JHANG: A patrolling police post sub-inspector was found dead in his room here on Monday morning. According to police, Khewa patrolling police post Sub-Inspector Ch Shahbaz went to his room after duty on Sunday night. On Monday, when the policeman did not reach his duty spot, his colleagues along with his family entered his room and found him dead. According to the autopsy report, the policeman died due to heart attack. Police have handed over the body of Shahbaz to his family after completing legal formalities.

 

Bilawal to visit Bahawalpur on 28th

By our correspondent

BAHAWALPUR: PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is scheduled to visit Bahawalpur on March 28. In this regard, a meeting of the People’s Lawyers Forum south Punjab was held at the residence of forum Bahawalpur division president Syed Ishfaq Hussain Bukhari to review arrangements for visit of Bilawal. PLF south Punjab president Habibullah Shakir chaired the meeting.

 

Two impersonators held 

By our correspondent

FAISALABAD: Thikriwala police have registered a case against two impersonators. On a tip-off, police raided a marriage hall and arrested two fake Elite Force constables Meraj Din and Rana Tahir of Chak 275/JB while another accused Rana Tahir managed to escape. The accused were also resorting to aerial firing in the marriage function at the wedding hall.

 

Govt’s decision to retain 2015 Haj policy this year hailed

By our correspondent

FAISALABAD: The Haj Operators Association Pakistan vice-chairman Hafiz Muhammad Shafiq has hailed the decision of the government to retain 2015 Haj policy this year.In a statement issued here on Monday, he said that 2015 Haj policy had included no curtailment in private Haj quota, elimination of hard-tec quota and imposition of ban on free Haj. He demanded the government announce some relief in official Haj package besides directing the airlines to decrease the Haj and Umra fares after reduction in petrol prices by the government. He said that the HOAP would resist if the Ministry of Religious Affairs try to victimise any Haj operator without having any solid reason.

 

IHC asks Musharraf’s counsel to submit documents

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday granted two days to counsel of former president Pervez Musharraf to submit an attested copy of a trial court’s verdict that has issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Musharraf. Musharraf’s counsel Malik Tahir Mahmood appeared before the IHC bench headed by Justice Amir Farooq and stated that his client was sick and could not appear before the trial court. He stated that his client had also submitted a medical report to the trial court, however the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants. He pleaded the IHC to declare the trial court’s verdict null and void and implantation of its order should be stopped until the high court adjudicates the matter. The court gave two days time to the petitioner to submit attested copy of the trial court’s verdict and other relevant documents. —Online

 

LHC extends stay against 14pc hike in gas price till April 12

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday extended stay against 14 per cent increase in the price of gas till April 12. The single bench comprising Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf passed the orders while hearing petitions, challenging the recent increase in the gas prices. The court extended the stay after Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s counsel sought time to file reply in the matter. More than 60 petitioners including Ayesha Spinning Mills had challenged the increase in gas prices, submitting that Ogra had increased the gas price by 14pc on the request of the gas companies. The petitioners submitted that Ogra approved hike in prices without holding any public hearing which was mandatory for the purpose. They pleaded the court to set aside the notification for 14pc hike in the gas prices.

 

 SC maintains death sentence of murder convict

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Monday maintained death penalty of Ashraf Baho who was involved in killing five persons at Shaheen Chowk Gujrat, however the court changed death penalty of Nasar alias Nasra to life imprisonment. A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed hearing of the case in which it was informed by prosecutor that two proclaimed offenders had not been arrested so far. The apex court expressed annoyance over the failure to apprehend proclaimed offenders Tahir and Imran Baloki, directing DPO Gujrat to arrest and present them before the court within a week. Justice Ameer Hani Muslim satirically thanked the police for arresting culprits in installments.

 

Rainfall damages road links in AJK

MUZAFFARABAD: Heavy rainfall during last three days played havoc in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), damaging major road links and disrupting normal life activities. The rain started Friday early morning and continued till Monday morning in the planes while the upper areas and peaks received snowfall and cold weather conditions. The roads from Muzaffarabad to Kohala and Islamabad remains blocked at Kulian Kohala and Abasian due to landsliding while Muzaffarabad to Choukothi road was also reported damaged at Chinari due to which crossing on Line of Control Bus Service has to suspend till March 21.

 

Shrine in AJK targeted with hand grenades

MUZAFFARABAD: An explosion on Monday early morning at a shrine in Neelum district of Azad Kashmir caused no loss but police recovered a dozen of hand grenades, said local police. Athmaqam SHO Raja Ansar Sajjad told APP that they were informed by local villagers about the explosion at Kundal Shahi where a police team reached the shrine of Syed Rasool Shah and recovered 12 unexploded hand grenades. He said some identified miscreants had thrown the locally-made hand grenades at the shrine.