Briefs

Kidnapped boy recovered, two Afghan nationals held

By our correspondent

MINGORA: The police recovered a kidnapped boy and arrested two Afghan nationals, including a woman, official said on Friday. District Police Officer Muhammad Salim Marwat told reporters that Hayan Ali, son of Constable Sadaqat Ali, was kidnapped on June 2 from Saidu Sharif. He said the kidnappers had shifted the boy to Abbottabad, Manshera and Attock and had been demanding Rs20million from the parents. He said that the police asked the parents to negotiate the ransom money with the kidnappers and both parties agreed on Rs8million.The kidnappers brought the child to Swat and the police raided their place near the Mingora bypass and arrested the kidnappers identified as Abdul Mateen and his aunt Taj Bibi.

Pak NSG membership: Fatemi phones

Belarusian, Kazakh ministers

ISLAMABAD: As part of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts to secure the membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi on Friday spoke over telephone with Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei and Kazakhstan Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Ashikbayev.The ministers of Belarus and Kazakhstan appreciated the informative exchange of views and agreed to maintain close collaboration with Pakistan on this issue, a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said.

Qadri also owns offshore firms, claims Sana

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday claimed that after offshore companies of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, offshore companies of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri had also surfaced. Sanaullah stated that records showed that Qadri and members of his family owned property worth Rs42 million, adding that dozens of properties were purchased in Canada, London, Belgium and Denmark. “Qadri’s sons and his daughters-in-law are the trustees of a London trust whereas Qadri himself is the owner of flats and houses in London,” he alleged. He questioned who would provide answers related to dozens of offshore companies Qadri owned.

Villagers kill rare dolphin in Ghotki

GHOTKI: Villagers in Ghotki’s Narli Minor killed a rare dolphin near Daharki on Friday after they mistook it for a monster.The dolphin had come to Narli canal from River Indus after it lost its way. The villagers said that they did not know that the dolphin was rare and only killed it out of fear. On the other hand, a large number of people came to have a look at the dolphin following the news that the animal was a monster. The residents have also termed the man who killed the dolphin as brave.

Two siblings dead in landmine blast

JAFFARABAD: Two siblings died in a landmine blast in Goth Eid Muhammad Bugti near the Suhbatpur area of Jaffarabad district on Friday. According to police sources, the victims – eight-year-old Ali Aijaz and nine-year-old Aysha Bibi -- were on their way to home when they hit the planted landmine, triggering a blast in which they were killed on the spot.The bodies were handed over to the heirs after legal formalities, while law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and started efforts to trace out suspects.