Briefs...

Envoys-designate call on president
ISLAMABAD: Envoys-designate to Bangladesh and Tajikistan on Tuesday called on President Mamnoon Hussain.The president, while talking to the HC-designate to Bangladesh, Shuja Alam, said that through effective platforms like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), bilateral relations with Bangladesh could be further explored.

‘Salute’ a tribute to army, martyred student
By our correspondent
LAHORE: In order to pay glowing tributes to Shaheed Aizaz Hassan and the army, a renowned film maker Shahzad Rafiq has announced making ‘Salute’ a movie for the martyred young student.Shahzad Rafiq disclosed this while addressing a press conference held at the Adabi Baithak at Alhamra Arts Council on Tuesday. He said it would not be an entertainment but a thought-provoking and mind changing film, which would be shown in every educational institution.Renowned playwright, teacher and an intellectual, Asghar Nadeem Syed said Tariq Ismail Sagar was the writer of this movie and the movie would be translated into many languages and would be put on display in the cinemas this year.

Dosti Bus to leave from Wagah
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Due to the prevailing security concerns in the country, the Pakistan-India Dosti Bus will now leave for India from the Wagah Border instead of its regular terminal at Gulberg, Lahore. This was announced by the PTDC Managing Director Kabeer Ahmad Khan on Tuesday. He said that due to the security concerns, security measures for the bus had been enhanced and according to the new arrangements, the Dosti Bus would be stationed at the Wagah Border from where they would leave for India.

Two peace body members killed in Tirah
By our correspondent
BARA: Two peace committee members were killed in a clash with militants in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, official sources said on Tuesday. The sources said the banned Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) attacked with heavy weapons the pro-government organisation Tauheed-ul-Islam (TI) in Charchano Tangi in Tirah Valley. They said two volunteers of the Tauheed-ul-Islam were killed in the clash.

Iran hands over 56 deportees to Pakistan
CHAGHI: The Iranian security forces has handed over 56 Pakistani nationals to the Levies force on the Pak-Iran border in Taftan area of the district. The Levies force announced on Tuesday these Pakistani workers had been apprehended from parts of Iran because they were living there without valid traveling documents. These deportees would be handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further interrogation.

Two militants arrested from Mastung
QUETTA: Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) busted two alleged militants during a raid in the Killi Kabo area of Mastung district on Tuesday. Local LEAs sources said acting on a tip-off about the presence of alleged militants in a house in the area, LEAs officials raided the spot. The militants entered a house and opened fire at the members of the raiding party, leaving official Saeed Jan seriously injured. He succumbed to his injuries as was being shifted to the hospital. LEAs team took the militants into custody whose identity could not be ascertained.

Two killed in Loralai
LORALAI: Armed men shot dead two people in the Pathan Goth area of Loralai district of Balochsitan. According to the Levies Force sources, gunmen riding a bike opened fire killing two people Mawali and Juma Khan on the spot while Esoo sustained injuries. The motive behind the killing is not known as yet.

Miners laid to rest
BISHAM: Three miners, who died of suffocation at a coalmine in Dolai area in Hangu, were laid to rest in their respective villages here on Tuesday. The miners Rahmanuddin, Ajmal and Ismail suffocated to death while working at a private pit in Dolai area.

Three bodies recovered in Mohmand Agency
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: Bodies of three unidentified persons were recovered in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency, official sources said on Tuesday. They said that three bodies were recovered near the Khakh Dokanono graveyard in Safi tehsil. The political administration buried the corpses after no one claimed them. Meanwhile, the security forces launched a search operation in the area. The duration of the curfew was extended for two hours. Also, the political administration arrested five suspected persons under the Collective Responsibility Section of the Frontier Crimes Regulation after the roadside blast in Alingar area in Safi tehsil.

Eight salesmen of petrol pumps held
for overcharging in Mardan
By our correspondent
MARDAN: The district administration arrested eight salesmen of various petrol pumps in the district for overcharging.Assistant Commissioner Khan Mohammad along with subordinate staff visited different petrol pumps to check the rates of petroleum products. The eight salesmen were arrested for overcharging. Meanwhile, at a press conference, Akhtar Nawaz, president of Petroleum Dealers Association, slammed the raids by the district administration and declared these illegal.He said they would close down petrol pumps in protest if the arrested salesmen were not released forthwith.

Arrest of Allama Irfani’s killers demanded by Jirga
By our correspondent
PARACHINAR: A tribal jirga asked the government to arrest the killers of the religious scholar Allama Muhammad Nawaz Irfani. The jirga was convened near the grave of the leader of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and khateeb of the main Parachinar mosque, Allama Mohammad Nawaz Irfani. He was killed in Islamabad on November 26 last year. The jirga, attended by hundreds of Turi and Bangash tribesmen, warned of a protest campaign in Islamabad if the killers were not arrested forthwith.

Private schools fined in Nowshera
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: The district education officer (DEO) on Tuesday visited various private schools and imposed fines on the administration for defying the government orders and keeping the institutions open. DEO Muhammad Inam Toru visited various schools that were opened despite the clear directives of the government and imposed Rs50,000 fine on the institutions. He also dispatched a letter to the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Mardan, asking the board authorities to cancel the registration of the institutions for not obeying the government directives.