Briefs

Lightning kills two in Bajaur

KHAR: Two persons were killed and five others sustained injuries when lightning struck them in Adad Banda in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur Agency on Sunday. The two persons identified as Kashif and Inam were killed and five others injured when they were struck by lightning.The Frontier Corps personnel reached the area and shifted the injured to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khar. The torrential rain also destroyed crops in several villages of the Bajaur tribal region.

Rickshaw driver booked in rape case

By our correspondent

TOBA TEK SINGH: Gojra Sadar police on Sunday booked a rickshaw driver for allegedly raping a college student.Complainant Ayesha Bibi of Chak 351/JB informed the police that her daughter, a student of Government Women Degree College, Gojra, had hired a rickshaw to pick and drop. Ayesha Bibi alleged that accused rickshaw driver Usman on return from college few days ago not only allegedly raped her daughter but also made her nude photos and threatened her that if she told anyone about the incident, he would post her pictures on social media.

MANSEHRA: The Wildlife Department has confiscated various animals and birds from a circus and freed them in their habitat here on Saturday.A team of the department raided the circus being exhibited near Commerce College at the Karakoram Highway in the city and confiscated the animals and birds. The circus management failed to produce legal documents to carry wild animals and birds during the raid,.

Azadi Train arrives in Okara

By our correspondent

OKARA: The Azadi Train arrived for three hours at the Okara Railway Station here on Sunday.The Azadi Train arrived in the city on the 10th day of its 30 days march. The Azadi Train arrived at 3:35pm at the Okara Railway Station. The train is consisted of 12 bogies, including six air-conditioned bogies. The bogies show pictorial history of the Pakistan Movement and the current on going development projects especially related to power generation projects. There are two bogies of the Pakistan armed forces under the ISPR. The bogies reflect the culture and music of all the provinces. Thousands of people reached the railway station to welcome the Azadi Train, which left for Sahiwal at 7pm.

Six more killed in Tirah air strikes

By our correspondent

BARA: At least six more suspected militants were killed when jetfighters targetted their hideouts in Rajgal and its surrounding areas in Tirah valley in Khyber Agency, official sources said on Sunday. The sources said that two sanctuaries of the militants, belonging to the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam, were also destroyed in the attack.At least 36 militants have so far been killed and their hideouts destroyed during the last several days of the “Khyber-3” operation in Rajgal area.

Girl, woman gang-raped in Pakpattan

By our correspondent

PAKPATTAN: A girl and a woman were gang-raped in separate incidents here. In the first incident, Muhammad Sharif of Chak Mehndi Khan with his family was on way home when five people, including Saleem, allegedly abducted his daughter ‘A’ about 12 days ago. The accused took the girl to an unknown place where they allegedly raped her for 12 days. In the second incident, Yasmin of Qaboola Town was waiting for a rickshaw at Qaboola Bypass when five people, including Saeed Ahmad and Naveed, allegedly abducted her two days ago. They shifted the woman to an unknown place where they allegedly raped her for two days. Police have registered separate cases and started investigation.

10 militants arrested in Hangu operation

By our correspondent

HANGU: The security forces arrested 10 suspected militants and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Hangu district on Sunday, official sources said.They said that the security forces made the arrests during a combing operation in various areas in Thall tehsil.The security forces arrested 10 militants and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition. The militants were taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

20 power thieves arrested in Bannu

By our correspondent

BANNU: About 20 persons were arrested for using electricity through illegal means. The Pesco officials along with the police party raided various houses in Bannu city and arrested 20 power thieves.  The officials also disconnected electricity from high transmission line to Manzar Kakki for not paying arrears of Rs7million. The police registered cases against the alleged power thieves.

One more killed as Congo virus death toll rises to 16

QUETTA:  Another patient suffering from Congo Virus has died here on Sunday raising the death toll to 16.  A female patient, hailing from Afghanistan, was brought to the Fatima Jinnah General Hospital for medical treatment. The doctors sent her blood samples to Karachi, which confirmed that she was suffering from the Congo virus. She lost her battle to the disease on Sunday. At least eight people in Balochistan, five in Sindh and three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have died from the virus. No case has been reported in the Punjab province.

Three landmines defused in Dera Bugti

QUETTA: The Frontier Corps Balochistan foiled a terror bid by defusing three landmines in Jori area of Dera Bugit on Sunday. Official sources said saboteurs planted landmines in Jori area of Dera Bugti to carryout subversive act. Acting on a tip-off, the FC personnel reached the scene and defused three landmines, they said. The law-enforcement personnel cordoned off the entire area to trace the suspects. Further probe was underway. 

Number of dengue patients in Batkhela reaches 40

By our correspondent

BATKHELA: The number of patients suffering from dengue fever has jumped to 40 as 18 more affected people were admitted to hospital here on Sunday, official sources said. According to the dengue surveillance cell in the District Headquarters Hospital at Baktkhela, the number of dengue patients rose to 40 as 18 more persons were tested positive. Locals said that spread of disease in the area had created panic among the people. They said the Health Department officials had started anti-dengue fumigation in the area; however, more steps were needed to eliminate and control the virus.  They said the disease was spreading due to standing water as the drains were not being properly cleaned.

Children, women among nine killed in road accident

THATTA: Nine people, including four children and three women, were killed while 48 others received injuries in a collision between a passenger van and a tractor trolley on Sunday morning. The bus was going to Shahdadkot when it collided with the tractor trolley in Thatta. The bodies and injured were rushed to the Thatta Civil hospital for treatment. The identity of the injured could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.

Windstorm lashes Islamabad

By our correspondent

Islamabad: A windstorm lashed Islamabad and adjoining Rawalpindi on Sunday evening after hot and humid daytime, turning the weather pleasant. Though the winds were strong enough to make trees and billboards sway, no damage to public life and property was reported. Light rainfall accompanied windstorm at isolated places. Some localities saw brief suspension of electric supply. The pleasant weather prompted families to turn to parks and recreational spots, including Pir Sohawa, Daman-i-Koh, Lake View Park, Fatima Jinnah Park, Shakarparian, Shahdara and Chattar. High sales of snacks like ‘samosas’, ‘pakoras’ and ‘jaleebi’ were also reported. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, there is a good chance of rainfall along with thunderstorm and windstorm in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Malakand, Hazara, Gujranwala, Lahore, Mirpurkhas divisions, Fata, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 48 hours. It said mainly hot and humid weather was expected in most parts of the country.

Injustice forcing people to stage sit-ins: Siraj

LAHORE: JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq has said non-provision of justice is forcing people to stage sit ins and protests. The JI chief made the statement while talking to the media after the funeral of JI worker Mirza Tanveer Ahmed. Ahmed was shot dead in Shah Alam Market on Saturday. He was the candidate for chairman from UC-33 Lahore. Sirajul Haq said people resort to sit ins and protests to get FIR registered. He said the Punjab government should clarify who has given the criminals the certificate to claim lives of common people. Only life is cheap in Pakistan, the JI chief said. The party chief demanded that Ahmed’s killers should be brought to justice. Various political leaders including former Punjab governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar and opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed participated in the funeral.

Farmer body leader appointed

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Chaudhry Nisar Ahmad Advocate has been appointed president of Kissan Board Pakistan. Nisar, who is a veteran farmer leader, said that he would vigorously highlight the problems of growers at all forums. He said the federal and provincial governments should play active role in addressing the issues being faced by farmers. He was of the view that farming was no more a profitable business for the growers.

Man shot dead in Bannu

BANNU: A man was killed and another sustained injuries in separate firing incidents in the district on Saturday, official sources said.One Hameesh Gul was on his way home in Kurram Garhi in the limits of the Cantonment Police Station when unidentified gunmen fired at his motorcar, killing him instantly. The accused fled.

PPP wins PS-14 by-elections

JACOBABAD: Pakistan People’s Party has won by elections in PS-14 Jacobabad by a heavy margin.According to unofficial results available Sunday morning, PPP’s Aurangzeb Panhore took 24,084 votes whereas PML-N leader Aslam Abro stood second with 13,498 votes. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Raja Khan Jakhrani managed to get 8,960 votes. Total number of voters in the constituency was 145,756 including 77,610 men and 68,347 women voters, while heavy contingent of the police and Rangers were deputed inside and outside the most sensitive declared polling stations. The seat had fallen vacant after the demise of PPP’s Muqeem Khan Khoso.

PHP arrest eight POs

LAHORE: Punjab Highway Patrol claimed to have arrested 36 criminals, including eight proclaimed offenders (POs).Besides the arrests, Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP) also extended help to 2,203 travelers.  PHP teams arrested eight POs identified as Ibrar, Abdul Rasheed, M Akhtar, M Younis, M Azam, Arif, Asif and M Farooq. They were handed over to police.PHP teams seized 191-litre liquor, three pistols and 64 bullets, one rifle after arresting 23 accused identified as Manzoor Hussain, M Shahid, M Aslam, Naheed Noor, Naseer, Fazal Abbas, Khurram, Saleem, Abubakar, Salamat, M Faisal, M Shahbaz, Gull Shair and others.