Briefs...

Imran, Reham to visit APS this week
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan said on Monday that he would visit the Army Public School with his wife Reham Khan in the current week.Khan tweeted that “planned to be with our brave children who returned to APS today along with Reham & CM KP, but we were advised to postpone visit as COAS was going today for what we were told was a “soft” opening of the APS. But we will be there with our brave children this week”.Army Public School Peshawar was attacked by terrorists on December 16. Since then winter vacations of schools across the country were extended due to security threats.However, schools throughout the country reopened on Monday.

Power cuts in
DI Khan protested
Our correspondent
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The residents of various localities in the district on Monday staged a protest against prolonged loadshedding. Led by Shakeel Awan, Muhammad Khan and Shireen Jan, the residents of Qayyum Nagar, Kotla Habib, Sago Daman, Baranabad, Muslim bazaar, cantonment, Gomal and other areas, carrying banners and placards chanted slogans against the officials of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco). Speaking on the occasion, they said that officials of Pesco were carrying out more than 12 hours long power cuts which created problems for the residents and caused water shortage. They threatened to intensify the protest campaign if the duration of the loadshedding was not reduced.

Extortionists throw grenade at doctor’s house
Our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Unidentified persons lobbed a hand grenade into the house of senior doctor in Jaroba village, police said on Monday. Lodging complaint of the incident, Assistant Prof Dr Rizwan Khattak, a neurosurgeon at the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, told the police that unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade at his house around 8:30 pm. He said the explosion caused no casualty. The doctor told the police that unidentified persons had pasted a notice on the door of his house a day earlier and asked him to pay Rs10 million extortion.
Elders demand uplift schemes
Our correspondent
LAKKI MARWAT: Elders of disputed area in Lakki Marwat here on Monday alleged that the government and political administration were not executing developmental work in 80 percent of their territory, which is not included in the Frontier Region Lakki. “Tribesmen living in the area have not seen any uplift work for years as the authorities claim their localities are not part of the tribal region,” an elder said. Elders from Tarukhel, Vargaray, Alikhel and Adezai attended the meeting and formed a body named “FR Lakki Qaumi Ittehad” to bring their problems into the notice of quarters concerned. Jumma Khan, a retired government official, and Hafiz Zahidullah Turabi were chosen as president and general secretary, respectively.

KP govt to reconstruct 324 damaged schools
Our correspondent
MANSEHRA: The provincial government is going to reconstruct over 324 schools, including 140 for girls, damaged in 2005 earthquake, an official said on Monday. Talking to reporters, District Education Officer Gohar Ali Khan said majority of the schools had developed cracks while some had sustained more damage. He said the Erra couldn’t get the damaged schools reconstructed for lack of funds. “Funds have been allocated under the Annual Development Programme to rebuild the schools. The work will start on the completion of tendering process,” he said.