New police stations

PESHAWAR, April 23: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti on Monday inaugurated various projects of police stations, posts and patrolling posts to be built in Swat, at a ceremony held at Police Lines here on Monday. The projects will cost Rs700 million. Police stations at Kanju, Kalakot, Rahim Abad, Mingora and Gagra Bunir will be completed in 18 months.

Likewise, police posts at Landakay, Kakori, Fatehpur and Karakar will be completed in 15 months, while police patrolling posts at Shah Dheri, Arbab Tapu, Dewali, Ashari, Shakar Dara, Alam Ganj, Teligram and Tatnu Banda will be built in 12 months. Senior Minister Rahim Dad Khan and IGP Akbar Khan Hoti were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the CM also approved upgradation of Government Girls Higher Secondary School No.1 Karak to higher secondary level and creation of 17 different posts from April 1, 2012.—Bureau Report

Over 40 ‘outlaws’ arrested

KOHAT, April 23: The police claimed on Monday to have arrested 46 outlaws in a crackdown in different parts of Kohat district and seized illegal weapons from their possession.

The Frontier Reserve Police and Elite Force took part in the operation carried out in Jungle Khel, Ustarzai, Lachi, Gumbat and other areas along the tribal belt.

The weapons captured included five short machine guns, 19 shotguns, seven rifles, four repeaters, 23 pistols and 13 kilograms of hashish.

The outlaws were handed over to respective police stations for further interrogation.

Meanwhile, a boy hanged himself to death after dispute with her mother in Mohallah Sikandar Khan Shaheed on Monday. Doctors at women and children hospital confirmed that the boy, Arshad Mahmood, 12, had hanged himself as his neck was broken.—Correspondent

Tobacco growers’ problems

PESHAWAR, April 23: Keeping in view the complaints of tobacco growers, the government has formed a committee led by Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) chairman Zahoor Khalil to recommend solution to the farmers’ problems within ten days.

The committee was constituted at a meeting attended by farmers, mill owners, dealers, excise department and PTB officials on Monday.

Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti said evolving solution to problems confronting the people was the responsibility of the government.

Agriculture Minister Arbab Ayub Jan and Minister for Excise and Taxation Liaqat Shabab were also present. Matters pertaining to federal and provincial taxes on tobacco were reviewed. The tobacco growers apprised the meeting of their problems.

The chief minister assured that the matter will be discussed with the federal government in light of the recommendations of the committee.—Bureau Report

Suspected militants held

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, APRIL 23: The district police on Monday arrested two suspected militants allegedly involved in suicide attacks on DPO office and DSP city circle besides major target killing incidents.

DPO Suhail Khalid presenting the suspected militants before media said the two notorious terrorists belonged to an outlawed organisation and had confessed to their involvement in dozens of suicide attacks and target killings across the district.

He said these terrorists had confessed to involvement in attacks on Shia community members, including Dr Jalal Hussain, Ghulam Ahmed, Imran, Suhail Abbas and Qaiser Abbas. They were also involved in attacks on eagle squad constable Rashid Irfan and retired inspector Nasirullah.—Correspondent

Peace in Swat

MINGORA, April 23: Awami National Party, Swat chapter president and MPA Sher Shah Khan has said peace in Swat valley is the result of countless sacrifices of ANP workers, people of Swat, police and other security personnel.

He expressed these views while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of office-bearers of cabinet and supreme council of Qaumi Jirga Barikot on Monday.

The convener of the jirga presented proposals for solution to problems being faced by over 160,000 population of Barikot. He demanded provision of gas, establishment of degree college, protection walls along River Swat, Barikot model school on the land acquired for cadet college, Nadra office, grid station, technical college and repair of Musakhel water cannel.

MPA Sher Shah said the provincial government was devising a policy to recruit prayer leaders in BPS-16 or 17, adding hujras (male guest houses) will be built at village level to revive cultural activities.—Correspondent

Preserving heritage

PESHAWAR, April 23: The Department of Archaeology, Hazara University has initiated a unique campaign by involving community for heritage promotion. Dr Abdul Samad, Chairman, Department of Archaeology, said through “Friends of Museum” programme several individuals from Abbottabad and Mansehra had already donated ancient objects to Hazara University Museum.

In a statement issued in Peshawar on Monday, he explained that this was the first ever programme launched by any museum in Pakistan, while such kinds of community involvement programmes were already popular in Europe and America where people donated their personal antique collections to museums.

Prof Dr Sakhawat Shah, Vice-Chancellor, Hazara University said the university museum was an educational museum, where the donated objects would be preserved for the dissemination of knowledge to the future generation.—Bureau Report

PDA annual elections

PESHAWAR, April 23: The annual elections of the Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) will be held on May 29.

The announcement was made by the PDA election commissioner Prof Dr Ijaz Hassan Khan at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday.

Flanked by other doctors, Dr Ijaz said arrangements had been made to receive the nomination papers till May 2, to be scrutinised on May 7, appeal against commission’s decision to be heard on May 14, decision on appeals to be announced on 21 and withdrawal of the papers would be allowed till 12 noon of May 22.

Dr Ijaz said elections would be conducted in four polling stations at the provincial metropolis -- Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Lady Reading Hospital and City Hospital, Kohat Road. He said only registered doctors with PDA would be eligible to contest elections.—Bureau Report