Briefs

Land grabbers warned to vacate forest within three days

By our correspondent

SUKKUR: The people who have grabbed thousands of acres of forest have been warned to voluntarily leave the land within three days or the law-enforcement agencies will act against them.  The warning was given by the Deputy Commissioner of Sanghar, Muhammad Umar Farooq Bullo, at a meeting with the officials of the forest department.The deputy commissioner also directed the forest officers to take action against deforestation.He told the meeting that cases of deforestation had been reported in Khipro.

Students protest over PMDC affiliation issue

By our correspondent

SUKKUR: Students of the Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College of Sukkur and the Bibi Aseefa Dental College of Larkana protested against the administrations of their respective colleges for failing to secure affiliation with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The students of the Bibi Aseefa Dental College also boycotted their classes and forced closure of the OPD at the hospital. The protestors said that the future of 200 students was at stake and blamed the administration for their agony. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, assured a delegation of the students of the two colleges which had called on him that he would discuss the matter with the chief minister.     On the other hand, the Principal of the Bibi Aseefa Dental College, Muhammad Ilyas Shaikh, said that he had made an attempt to see the president of the PMDC to get the matter resolved, but the latter did not give him time for the meeting.        

Transporters warn of wheel-jam strike over tax hike

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: The transporters community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday threatened to hold wheel-jam strike tomorrow (Wednesday) if the KP Transport Department did not withdraw the increase in taxes. They also warned to block the Grand Trunk (GT) Road and Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway for traffic on October 31.Speaking at a news conference here, Noor Muhammad Khan Mohmand, president, Muttahida Transport Workers Federation (MTWF) KP chapter, said the provincial government had adopted a rude attitude towards all the organizations linked with transport field.

Key terrorist held in Quetta

Quetta: The Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel have arrested a key terrorist and seized arms and ammunition from his possession in the Tump area of Quetta.The FC officials raided a hideout in Tump and arrested a key terrorist said to be affiliated with a banned outfit. The FC officials have also seized huge cache of ammunition from his possession, including seven RPGs, six rocket launchers, five hand grenades, two pistols and explosive materials. The terrorist has been shifted to an undisclosed location.

KPEC arrests ex-official of Agriculture dept

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) on Monday arrested Karim Nawaz Baloch, a former district director of the Agriculture Department, Dera Ismail Khan, for his alleged involvement in a corruption in the Insaf Food Programme. An official of the KPEC said Karim Nawaz Baloch was arrested on account of his involvement in millions of rupees corruption and corrupt practices in the Insaf Food Programme. The KPEC claimed the accused had not only issued the free wheat package meant for farmers to irrelevant persons in Dera Ismail Khan, but also misappropriated the funds. The KPEC official said Karim Nawaz Baloch was arrested on the basis of the findings of a proper inquiry. He added the accused would be produced before the Ehtesab Court today for obtaining his physical remand for further interrogation.

Two Daesh members held in Peshawar

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) KP arrested two members of Daesh (Islamic State) during an action in the provincial capital on Monday, officials said.The officials said the held men were the accomplices of two alleged terrorists who were held a few days back while distributing jihadi pamphlets in Tehkal to recruit locals. “The CTD during an action in Tehkal arrested one Aftab hailing from Regi and Talha hailing from of Bakhshi Pul. They had escaped during a CTD action in which two Daesh members were held while distributing pamphlets,” said a CTD official. The official said the held men were attracting people for recruitment in Daesh. The arrested men were taken to unknown place for interrogation. He said more raids would be conducted to arrest other accomplices of the accused.

Pak-Afghan border reopens after 10 days

By our correspondent

PARACHINAR:  The Pak-Afghan border was reopened on Monday after 10 days of closure, political administration officials said. The border was closed on October 14 when a suicide bomber tried to enter the Pakistani territory and detonated his explosive vest after being stopped at a security check point in Kharlachi, leaving two persons injured.The border was closed after the attack which inconvenienced the tribespeople, traders and also affected repatriation of the Afghans refugees.  The routine activities resumed across the border after its reopening.

Peshawar gets new SSP operations

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: The Capital City Police got new senior superintendent of police (operations) as the incumbent one was posted District Police Officer in Swat. Sajjad Khan, who recently returned from home after availing Chevening Scholarship, was posted new SSP operations on Monday. Abbas Majeed Marwat was posted Swat DPO. Salim Marwat was posted Commandant of the Elite Force, Qamar Zaman was named SP Logistics and Zia Hassan was posted SP Telecommunication. The new SSP Peshawar Sajjad Khan has previously headed the district police force in Hangu, Bannu, Swabi and Swat. Abbas Majeed Marwat during his 10 months service in Peshawar helped improve the compilation of record and ensured attendance at police stations through frequent visits. He previously headed Chitral as DPO and remained Assistant Inspector General (training) at the Central Police Officer.

Inter-provincial robbers arrested

By our correspondent

NOWSHERA: The police arrested a member of an interprovincial gang of robbers and recovered stolen money, police sources said on Monday. The police said a gang involved in armed robberies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab had been busted after one of the members identified as Rozi Khan was arrested in Pabbi town of the Nowshera district. During the preliminary interrogation, the accused disclosed the names of other members of the gang. The police raided their hideouts and arrested the remaining robbers. Stolen gold, money and other valuables were recovered from them.