NEWS IN BRIEF

Published May 5, 2012

Ex-FC official convicted

PESHAWAR, May 4: An accountability court on Friday convicted a former superintendent of Frontier Corps in a corruption reference and sentenced him to two years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of over Rs7 million.

The court presided over by Shamsher Ali Khan pronounced that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused Ajmal Khan and the evidence on record was sufficient for his conviction.

Reference against the convict, hailing from Kohat district, was filed by the National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in 2008. The prosecution claimed the convict possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The NAB alleged investigation against the accused revealed that during his service he accumulated moveable and immoveable assets through corruption in his name and in the name of his spouse and other relatives.

The special prosecutor of NAB Azeemdad Khan argued that the accused could not prove that the assets possessed by him were made through legal means. — Bureau Report

Quran desecration condemned

LAKKI MARWAT, May 4: The Lakki tehsil chapter of JUI-F has condemned the alleged desecration of the holy Quran by an American priest and demanded of the government to raise voice against it and sever ties with the US.

In a meeting held here on Friday, the JUI leaders also expressed concern over the attempt of some elements to include two books of Salman Rushdi, a blasphemer, in English literature course at the University of Peshawar.

JUI-F tehsil amir Maulana Ahmad Shah Qurashi presided over the meeting. The participants asked the government to resolve problems like price hike, joblessness, lawlessness, corruption and loadshedding.

They offered prayers for the health of JUI-F central chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and departed souls of Qazi Hameedullah Khan, Maulana Attaur Rehman and father of JUI-F district amir Maulana Abdul Rahim. —Correspondent

Scholar’s murder assailed

MARDAN, May 4: Activists of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F on Friday condemned the killing of religious scholar Maulana Naseeb Khan by unidentified assailants and demanded early arrest of the killers.

The JUI-F workers took out a procession in Bashkhali area after the Friday prayer and chanted slogans against the rulers for their failure to protect the lives of people.

The JUI leaders and other religious scholars alleged the government had intentionally not been providing protection to ulema owing to its pro-American policies.

They claimed that ulema were playing vital role in the reformation of society and were trying to educate masses about the true teachings of Islam.

They urged the rulers to shun their ‘pro-American policies’ and adopt policies according to wishes of their own people. They also demanded of the government to take foolproof security measures for the religious scholars and seminaries. They lamented that the rulers were busy in power struggle instead of taking steps for the security of common man. —Correspondent

Tribesman shot dead

GHALANAI, May 4: A tribesman was shot dead over a land dispute at Ranakhel area of Haleemzai tehsil on Friday.

According to the residents there was a land dispute between the families of Ibrahim and Mohammad Ishaq for many years.

The opponent groups came across in the Ranakhel area and opened fire on each other. As a result, Mohammad Ayaz, son of Mohammad Ishaq, was seriously injured. He died on way to hospital.

The political administration arrested six people from both sides in connection with the incident and sent them to the Ghallanai lock-up. —Correspondent

Khar blast condemned

PESHAWAR, May 4: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has condemned the suicide blast in a busy market in Khar Bajaur agency on early Friday which claimed many innocent lives.

In a statement the governor said the terrorists were bent upon intimidating the people of Bajaur Agency for their struggle against terrorism and restoration of peace in the region.

The people of Bajaur, he added had exercised immense courage and valour to root out the terrorist elements from the agency and were ready to offer more sacrifices for maintenance of peace.

“They cannot be discouraged through such cowardly acts as they are united for the cause of peace and security,” said the governor. He added the government, the security agencies and the people were in unison in their efforts against terrorism.

The governor directed the political authorities to further strengthen security in the agency and remain extra vigilant to avoid recurrence of such acts of terrorism.

The governor expressed deep sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the deceased. —Bureau Report

Housing subsidy

PESHAWAR, May 4: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Friday directed the finance department to enhance housing subsidy for all government employees as announced by the federal government.

The provincial government earlier allowed this facility only in two cities, Peshawar and Abbottabad, due to financial constraints. The finance department maintained that based on existing rates of housing subsidy the actual expenditure for the financial year 2010-11 was Rs173.383 million and the additional expenditure due to revision of rate would be around Rs43. 347 million per annum, the official documents available with this news agency revealed.

The finance department proposed to the provincial government not to adopt the enhancement of rate as announced by the federal government as it would be difficult to assess the financial implication.

However, the chief minister endorsing the announcement of the federal government asked the finance department to ensure a uniform enhancement.—APP

Teacher suspended

LAKKI MARWAT, May 4: Headmistress of a primary school was suspended from service after the school was found closed on Friday.

On public complaints elementary and secondary education department’s executive district officer Haji Mir Azam Khan paid surprise inspection visit to Government Girls Primary School in Bega Tajazai locality and found it closed before the scheduled time.

The EDO issued on spot suspension orders of the headmistress and directed officials to deduct salaries of absent teachers. “The truant teachers do not deserve any leniency and will face strict disciplinary action,” he told this correspondent on phone.

He said since the start of new academic year surprise inspection visits were being carried out to ensure attendance of teachers in state run schools. He said female education needed much attention so absenteeism on part of female teachers would not be tolerated. —Correspondent

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