Briefs

Two bodies found in DI Khan

By our correspondent

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two bodies were recovered in the limits of the Yarak Police Station on Monday, official sources said.They said people were busy digging the soil when they found two bodies.  After being informed by the locals, the police reached the spot and shifted the bodies to the District Headquarters Hospital for autopsy.  The deceased couldn’t be identified.The police handed over the bodies to the Tehsil Municipal Administration to bury them temporarily.  They also registered a case and started investigation.

Three held for holding referendum

about army chief, politicians

By our correspondent

BANNU: Police have arrested three persons for holding referendum about politicians and the army chief. The referendum was being held outside Bannu Press Club.

SC summons LDA DG in plots allotment case

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Supreme Court Monday showed disappointment over inordinate delay in allotment of plots to two citizens and summoned Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general. A two-judge bench headed by acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing two identical petitions filed by KEMU VC Dr Faisal Masood and a citizen, Ziaul Haq, against the LDA.Representing Dr Masood, Advocate Ch Yaqoob argued before the court that his client purchased a plot of one-Kanal during 1990 in an area that was later included in Johar Town, Lahore. He said the LDA cancelled the plot of Dr Masood and promised to allot an alternate plot. However, the counsel said, the LDA had not allotted the promised plot despite lapse of 26 years. Counsel of Haq told the court that the LDA had not been allotting plot to his client for several years. The bench observed the LDA had become most corrupt department of the country and adopted a policy of humiliating citizens. The bench adjourned further hearing till Aug 2 and directed LDA DG Nabeel Javed to appear in person.

Man jailed for running drug store without licence

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Chairman Drug Court Monday awarded one year jail term to one Muhammad Saeed over the charges of running a drug store without a licence. The court imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the convict. In case of default in payment of fine, the convict will face further jail term. The drug authorities had registered a criminal case against Saeed for running a pharmacy ‘Hafiz Pharmacy’ in Kasur without obtaining a medical licence. The court after hearing final arguments of both parties convicted Saeed for one year.

Corps commander meets Jhagra

PESHAWAR: Corps Commander Lt-Gen. Hidayatur Rehman called on Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra at Governor’s House, Peshawar on Monday. According to an official handout, he remained with the governor for some time.

Cleric held for terror links

SAHIWAL: An accused was held for alleged links with terrorists in Sahiwal on Monday. Qari Muhammad Usman, a cleric of a local mosque, was taken into custody by law enforcement agencies on charges of facilitating terrorists, who were planning to target Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ahead of his visit to the District Headquarters Hospital, Sahiwal. The police recovered hate material and a laptop from his possession. The suspect was remanded into police custody for seven days by an anti-terrorism court in Multan.

PPP an icon of corruption: minister

By our correspondent

MULTAN: Federal Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan has criticised the Pakistan People’s Party and termed it an icon of corruption. Addressing an Eid Milan party in Union Council No 91 on Monday, he said the PPP had overburdened economy of the country with external debts during its tenures, besides plundering national resources.  The minister said that the PML-N devoted itself for the public welfare after the masses voted for it in the general elections. He said that the leaders like Nawaz Sharif were not born again and he (Nawaz) was the real leader of the masses. He said that clean sweep by the PML-N in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections proved that it was the most popular party of the country.

Terror victims compensated in Kurram

PARACHINAR: Commissioner of Kohat Musarrat Hussain on Monday distributed Rs30 million among the heirs of 100 people who were killed in the terrorism incidents in Kurram Agency.The cheques were distributed in a ceremony held in the Governor’s Cottage in Parachinar.  Political Agent Ikramullah Khan, Commandant Kurram Militia Col Umar Malik and others were present on the occasion. Commissioner Musarrat Hussain gave cheque for Rs0.3 million to each victim family. He said more than Rs250 million would be distributed among the victim families.

Punjab Doctors to get health allowance

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Najam Ahmad Shah has directed all principals of medical colleges to ensure disbursement of health allowance of Rs10,000 to doctors with salary for the month of August. According to the spokesman, Najam Ahmad Shah directed to ensure implementation of an announcement made by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. A notification has already been issued.

Meeting between Pak-India
border forces begins

LAHORE: The meeting between the border forces’ heads of Pakistan and India kicked off on Monday. The first session is being held in Islamabad on 25-26 July and 27-28 in Lahore. Other than the border forces, officials of Customs, immigration, railways and anti-narcotics are taking part in the meeting. The Pakistani side is led by Rangers DG Maj Gen Javed Burki whereas the Border Security Force DG Shri Krishan Kumar Sharma is heading the Indian delegation.

Petition against Modi returned

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice on Monday maintained LHC registrar office’s objection and retuned a petition seeking registration of a case under terrorism law against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over charges of genocide in held Kashmir. The chief justice observed that the petitioner should approach the justice of peace at first instance. The LHC registrar had raised the objection that the petitioner had not approached the proper forum. A local lawyer, Rana Abdul Hameed, filed the petition submitting that in the last few days Indian forces had killed more than a hundred Kashmiris and injured others including with eye injuries. He said a major grievance of those protesting in Kashmir is the failure of authorities to respect basic human rights. He claimed Modi, being head of the government, was responsible for these killings and torture of people of Indian held Kashmir. He requested to issue directions against the Indian premier on murder, attempt to murder, abatement under Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-terrorism Act.

Body of Indian national found in Chenab

 SIALKOT: Rescue officials have recovered the body of a man from River Chenab near Head Marala. The rescuers believe it’s a corpse of an Indian man. The body was recovered by Rescue 1122 divers. District Coordination Officer Dr Asif Tufail quoted local police as saying the body had reached Head Marala from India due to the fast flow of river. He said the body could not be recognised but the person had tattoos on his arms inscribed with Hindi words. The deceased man was wearing a necklace made of tiny idols, said the police. DCO Tufail said the body was handed over to local senior officials of Punjab Rangers.

Raisani’s remand extended

QUETTA: An accountability court in Quetta on Monday extended judicial remand of former Balochistan Finance Secretary Mushtaq Raisani for 10 more days in the mega corruption case. Mushtaq Raisani was produced before an accountability court to attend the proceedings of the corruption case against him. NAB authorities were granted an additional 10 days remand of the former finance secretary on request of the bureau. The NAB authorities have sought and received a physical remand of Raisani six times. He was arrested from his office at Civil Secretariat on May 6 by NAB officials. Rs730 million were recovered from Raisani’s residence in the form of local and foreign currency.

Convicted for selling banned drugs

By our correspondent

LAHORE: The Drug Court Chairman on Monday awarded one year jail term to a person namely Khalid Mehmood for selling banned drugs. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs250,000 on the convict. In case of default in payment of fine, the convict will face further jail term. Drug authorities had arrested Khalid Mehmood while he was selling banned drugs in district Kasur. The authorities concerned registered a case against Khalid and submitted a challan before the court. On Monday, the court after hearing the final arguments of both parties awarded one year imprisonment to Khalid Mehmood.