‘Women kidnappers’ arrested

MARDAN, May 10: Police claimed to have busted a gang of women kidnappers here on Thursday and recovered two minors from their possession.

The officials of City police station told Dawn that on a tip-off they raided a hideout located near the New Bus Stand and arrested the two women identified as Zaitoon and Maryam.

The officials said that two minors Danyal (2) and Sabawon (3) of New Ada Mardan and Karkhano Market Peshawar respectively had also been recovered from their possession.

They said the women kidnappers had confessed to their crime. “We kidnap minors and train them for begging to earn money,” the accused women told police. Police have registered a case and started investigation. — Correspondent

Schools reopen in Mohmand

GHALANAI, May 10: Classes had been started on emergency basis in Hasham Kor and Ato Khel areas for the students of Safi and Utmanzai localities, agency education officer Mohmand Agency Said Mohammad Khan told journalists here on Thursday.

“We have opened schools throughout the agency and also started the Lakaro Degree College classes at an alternate place in Chanda area of Haleemzai tehsil,” the official said. Three years ago the militants had blown up the Lakaro Degree College. The agency education officer urged the all students of Safi and others remote and far flung areas to contact the college administration to resume their studies.

In Mohmand Agency, 94 educational facilities hade been destroyed by militants due to which more than 20,000 students had been deprived of education. — Correspondent

Explosives recovered

CHITRAL, May 10: Chitral police have recovered a huge quantity of explosive material being smuggled to Garam Chashma area of the district.

Station house officer of Chitral police station inspector Zafar Ahmed told Dawn that on prior information, he kept a close watch on the vehicles and passengers coming into the district to foil the attempt of smuggling.

He said that during patrol early Thursday, he noticed bags being loaded into a jeep from another vehicle. On checking, explosive material was recovered from the bags, which were 20 in number and each weighed 25kg. An accused, Jalaluddin, of Garam Chashma valley was arrested under section 5 of Explosives Substance Act while the local court gave the accused in police custody for one day. —Correspondent

3 men go missing in Kohat

KOHAT, May 10: Three persons went missing from various parts of the city here on Thursday.

Muneeb Khan was picked up by unknown men from his home in the jurisdiction of Saddar police station.

In another case, Zahidullah went missing from Behzadi Chakarkot area. The Bilitang police have registered a case.

Similarly in Jarma, Qari Mohammad was whisked away by unknown persons in a vehicle. The wife of the victim lodged a report in the Jarma police station. — Correspondent

Clerks demand pay raise

PESHAWAR, May 10: The All Pakistan Clerks Association (Apca) has demanded of the government to accept the charter of demands presented by the association because the employees had abandoned its protest demonstrations on the assurance of government that the issues would be resolved shortly.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, Apca central general secretary Banaras Khan Jadoon said that the association had demanded for provision of inflation allowance and house rent and increase in basic salary of clerks of both provincial and federal governments. — Bureau Report

PTI seeks people’s support

MARDAN, May 10: Former federal minister and leader of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti has said that PTI would not give up its struggle against the convicted prime minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Addressing the PTI public meeting held here on Thursday in Toru area, he said that the convicted prime minister had no right to remain in his office after the Supreme Court’s detailed verdict. He said that the ruling PPP and its coalition partners had broken all records of corruption. He asked the people to join hands with them against the present corrupt rulers for bringing better change in the country.

Mr Hoti also criticised the ANP-led provincial government and said that they had sold the blood of Pakhtuns for a few dollars and carried out military operations in different parts of Khyber Pakthunkwha. — Correspondent

Medical allowance sought

CHITRAL, May 10: President of the local chapter of Ex-servicemen Association has demanded of the government to pay the 25 per cent medical allowance to the pensioners after merging it with the monthly pension as no military hospital is available in the district.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the president of the association Lt-Col (retd) Sardar Mohammad Khan, general secretary Amanullah Khan and others said that army pensioners and Chitral Scouts had rendered invaluable services for the country and deserved facilities in their old age.

They said that in the year 1992, the government had approved 25 per cent increase for both in-service and pensioners of Chitral Scouts but the pensioners of Chitral Scouts were still waiting the same. — Correspondent

Wapda workers hold rally

PESHAWAR, May 10: Wapda workers on Thursday observed complete boycott and held a rally against the appointment of chief executives of different power companies in the country.The rally was led by Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union chairman Gohar Taj.

Addressing the participants, the speakers strongly criticised the government for not accepting their demands and said that the government was least bother to resolve the issues. They said that the recent appointment of chief executive of the Quetta Electric Supply Company from outside the company was living example of the government’s arrogant policy that was not ready to promote Wapda’s own officers. — Bureau Report

Call for LG polls

PESHAWR, May 10: Local Council Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa general secretary Israrullah Khan has criticised the new local government policy and alleged that the rulers was planning mass rigging in the direct election of chairmen and vice-chairmen of local councils.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, he said that the government under Article 140-A of the constitution was bound to establish local government bodies and shift the powers to low level but the provincial government had failed to implement the law.Mr Khan asked the government to hold the local bodies elections as per the constitution through direct election and avoid division of the system by separating the corporations and district councils. — Bureau Report