Briefs...

TCP asked to purchase cotton bales
By our correspondent
MULTAN: The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association has urged the government to purchase 1 million cotton bales through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). Talking to newsmen here on Monday, PCGA vice-chairman Rao Sadruddin said that more than 2 million cotton bales were lying unsold in their stock. He said that the TCP should review its purchasing plan according to a commitment to the ginners. He warned that payment of billions of rupees to the farmers would be not possible if the TCP did not purchase cotton bales from them.

‘All out efforts being made to flush out terrorism’
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Privatization and senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said all out efforts are being made to flush out the menace of terrorism from the country. Talking to a news channel on Monday, he said action would be taken against the elements found involved in raising weapons against any national institution. He said such elements would be considered terrorist. He said special courts would be established to deal with the cases of persons involved in terrorist activities. Answering a question he said there was no harm in checking the funding of Madaaris and their curriculum.

SHO, cops held hostage by accused’s kin
By our correspondent
FAISALABAD: Relatives of some dacoity accused held Bahlik SHO Bashir Ahmad and cops hostage when they raided a place to arrest him at Chak 411/GB, Tandlianwala, on Monday. The police arrested Yousaf alias Usama and other accomplices in a dacoity case, but their relatives attacked the policemen and got them released. The attackers detained the policemen, tore their uniforms and resorted to aerial firing. Meanwhile, the Tandlianwala Sadr police have registered a case against 53 people, including Shahbaz, Aslam, Khalid, Akbar, Javed, Bushra and Nasreen under sections 224, 353, 324, 148, 149, 186 and 225 of the PPC on the report of SHO Bahlik Bashir Ahmad.

Prisonaer dies at jail mysteriously
By our correspondent
LAHORE: A 55-year-old prisoner died under mysterious circumstances at the Kot Lakhpat Jail on Sunday. Jail administration claimed the victim had died of natural death. Police have removed the dead body to morgue for autopsy. The deceased was identified as Imdad Hussain, son of Ahmad Khan, a resident of Qila Baksh Wala, Hafizabad. The victim was awarded life imprisonment for 25 years in a murder case. He was in prison since 2005. Few days before, he fell ill and was admitted to a hospital but could not survive.

Two dacoits held after encounter in Toba Tek Singh
By our correspondent
TOBA TEK SINGH: Police on Monday arrested two alleged dacoits after an encounter at Chak 392/JB.Three dacoits snatched cash from Mubashar at Grain Market and tried to flee from the spot. In the meantime, the police rushed to the spot and started chasing the dacoits who were trying to flee in their van. On the way, their van overturned due to over speeding on a link road. They left the van and hid in a field and allegedly opened fire at the police. At this, the police retaliated. As a result, police constable Ijaz Ahmad and a dacoit were injured. Later, the police arrested the injured dacoit and his one accomplice. However, their third accomplice fled.

Low gas pressure in Hangu protested
By our correspondent
HANGU: Residents on Monday took out a protest rally against low gas pressure in their areas and blocked the Thall-Karak road for some time. Led by Wahdat Khan, Muslim Khan, Noor Rehman and Abdul Aziz, the protesting residents of Ganderi, Dulan, Miangeekhel, Qadri Banda and others areas were carrying banners and placards. They chanted slogans against the lawmakers from Hangu and Karak districts. Speaking on the occasion, they alleged that 15 influential persons were involved in the gas theft.

Two women shot dead in Okara
By our correspondent
OKARA: Two women were shot dead in as many incidents here. In the first incident, widow Sughran Bibi of Hujra village was allegedly shot dead by Waqas, Saleem, Umar, Aslam and others near the Adda Mehrok in Mandi Ahmadabad police limits. In the second incident, Kalsoom Bibi, w/o Arshad, was allegedly shot dead by Murtaza of Faqeeria village. Police have registered separate cases.

Nine warders sacked in Gujranwala
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: Central Jail Superintendent Kamran Anjum has sacked nine warders for negligence and poor performance. They include Khalid Mehmood, Maqsood Ali, Abbas Ali, Zafar Abbas and Hussain Ali.

Bank robbery attempt foiled in Peshawar
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: A bank robbery attempt was foiled on the Kohat Road near Civil Colony early Monday morning. Armed men broke into a private bank near the Civil Colony late Sunday night after injuring and fastening the guard. The armed men had also brought cutters and other gadgets and were about to reach the cash when the locals were alerted. The robbers escaped without taking the cash. The police were informed.

Cop shot dead in Dera Ismail Khan
By our correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Unknown persons shot dead a policeman when he was on way for his duty, official sources said on Monday. The sources said Constable Muhammad Suliman was on way to Cantonment Police Station for duty. The assailants forced him to alight from the passenger coach and shot him dead near Rahmanikhel. The sources said that the attackers had links to notorious kidnappers and target killers operating in Dera Ismail Khan. In another incident near Bannu Chungi, a government official Syed Mujtaba Shah was shot dead when he was going home from the bazaar. He was an employee of the Works and Services Department.

Haripur police arrest 159 suspects
By our correspondent
HARIPUR: The Haripur Police arrested 159 suspected persons and unregistered Afghan refugees during a search operation.District Police Officer Khurram Rashid told the media that 27 Afghans were arrested as they were living outside the refugee camp. They were found violating Section 144 imposed by the deputy commissioner for 60 days. The senior police officer said six persons were apprehended for not submitting house rent details. He said six unregistered Afghan refugees were also held during the swoop. Khurram Rashid said 114 suspects were arrested for not possessing CNICs. He said two proclaimed offenders and six others were arrested for possessing unlicensed arms.

Arms smuggling bid foiled in Peshawar
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The police during an action foiled a bid to smuggle ammunition and arrested three alleged smugglers, including two women, on Monday. Superintendent of Police (SP) Rural Peshawar Shakir Bangash told the police that the cops of the Badaber Police Station acted on a tip-off and stopped a vehicle near Saifan police post. Around 25 pistols, five Kalashnikovs, 2 G-3 rifles and 7,200 rounds were recovered from the vehicle.

New IG NH&MP takes charge
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Muhammad Saleem Bhatti, a BS-21 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, has assumed the charge of Inspector General National Highways and Motorway Police on Monday. On his arrival at the NH&MP Headquarters, Islamabad, a guard of honour was presented to him by the NH&MP officers. He is the 12th Inspector General of National Highways and Motorway Police. Before that, he was serving as IG Gilgit Baltistan. Earlier, he had served as DIG Headquarters, Central and North, in Motorway Police.

Cop kills dacoit in foiled robbery
By our correspondent
GUJRANWALA: A constable killed a dacoit and injured his accomplice during a foiled robbery in Dholenkay village in Wazirabad Sadr police limits. Zain, who was posted at the Gujrat Civil Lines police station, was on his way in plainclothes when the dacoits intercepted him and tried to rob him of cash and valuables but he opened fire on them. As a result, an unidentified bandit was killed on the spot and another injured while their accomplices managed to escape. Earlier, the dacoits had robbed seven people of cash and valuables.