NEWS IN BRIEF

Published June 18, 2012

Minors killed in roof collapse

PESHAWAR, June 17: Two minor brothers were killed and their grandfather wounded when roof of a room in which they were sitting collapsed here on Sunday.

The incident took place in Sufaid Dheri area. The killed brothers were identified Habibullah, 2, and Latifullah, 3. According to Mashrang Khan, grandfather of the children, he and his grandsons were sitting in the room of their house when roof of the room collapsed.

The neighbours rushed to the site and retrieved them from the debris. The children were found killed while their grandfather who was wounded was shifted to the hospital. —Bureau Report

Security sought for girl

CHITRAL, June 17: The chairman of Human Rights Programme Chitral (HRPC) Niaz Ahmed Niazi advocate and its Drosh tehsil chapter president Haji Mohammad Shafa have demanded of the government to provide fool-proof security to the Chitrali girl student who had been kidnapped by some hooligans in Upper Dir last week and recovered later.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, they said in view of the impending threats to her life, she cannot go to her village Beori and was forced to reside in Drosh town along with her father, younger sisters and a brother.

They said the kidnappers were constantly threatening her through anonymous telephone calls.

The human rights activists appreciated the role of the people of Upper Dir in making the girl’s recovery possible. They also demanded steps to enable the girl as well as her younger sisters and brother to carry on their studies. —Correspondent

Two killed in Mansehra

MANSEHRA, June 17: A man and a child were killed in two separate incidents here on Sunday.

Mohammad Nadeem, an employee of a non-governmental organisation, was going to Mansehra from Muzafarabad when his vehicle overturned in Garhi Habibullah area, killing him on the spot.

He was buried at Attershesha area.In another incident, a third grade student, Mohammad Usman, was critically injured after he fell down from a tree. He was taken to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital Mansehra, but died on the way to the hospital. —Correspondent

Money dispute claims life

MARDAN, June 17: A man was killed allegedly over a monetary dispute in Baricham area of Mardan on Sunday.

Police said that the two accused identified as Fayaz Khan and Sajid Khan allegedly opened fire on Sabor Khan after they exchanged harsh words over a monetary dispute. He died instantly.

The Hoti police station registered the case on the complaint of Rafiq Shah, father of the victim, and arrested one of the two accused Sajid Khan. —Correspondent

Lawyers to foil conspiracies

KOHAT, June 17: The Kohat bar association has vowed to foil all nefarious designs to defame the superior judiciary and warned to come on the roads if any attempt was made to damage its integrity.

The president of the bar, Imtiaz Qureshi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said that property tycoon Malik Riaz was acting on the directions of somebody else who wanted to settle scores with Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and malign the judiciary.

He alleged that Malik Riaz was a puppet whose strings were in the hands of the politicians who thought that they were above the law.

He made it clear that lawyers would foil all conspiracies hatched against the judiciary. —Correspondent

Jirga appoints new head

LAKKI MARWAT, June 17: The Marwat Qaumi Jirga has unanimously elected ‘Raees’ of Eesakkhel Haji Mohammad Aslam Khan as the new chief of the body to succeed Maulana Syed Mohammad Mohsin Shah who was killed inside his seminary at Darra Pezu town, last month.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended besides others by former federal secretary Akhtar Munir Khan Marwat, former tehsil nazim Fareedullah Khan advocate and JUI-F district ameer Maulana Abdul Rahim.

In earlier meetings, the elders could not reach a unanimous decision about nomination of an elder to head the Qaumi Jirga which was established to help eliminate militancy and maintain peace.

The nomination of Haji Aslam Khan, who is an influential political figure and has affiliations with Saifulah brothers, was made after thorough deliberations by the members of Marwat Qaumi Jirga. “Mr Aslam Khan who along with his sons and relatives escaped a suicide attack in December 2009 will also be a joint candidate for national assembly constituency in the coming general elections,” said an elder. —Correspondent

Seminary postpones exam

NOWSHERA, June 17: Darul Uloom Haqania, Akora Khattak, has postponed its examinations of Wafaqul Madaris, which had started last week, after receiving threatening telephone calls from unidentified callers.

According to reliable sources, the administration of the seminary received threatening calls that the two big halls in the medressah would be destroyed if the examinations continued, after which the administration decided to postpone the rest of the examination.

The announcement was made by Maulana Anwarul Haq. He said that the next date would be announced after consultation with the administration.

Sources said that president Wafaqul Madaris Maulana Hanif Jalandhry had received the threatening telephone calls that the Darul Uloom Haqania would be targeted if the examinations were not postponed. —Correspondent

Development of Fata

PESHAWAR, June 17: Federal Minister for Safron Eng Shaukatullah Khan said on Sunday the government was giving top priority to development of Fata to bring the tribal people into the national mainstream.

Talking to reporters here, the minister said the government had accorded top priority to promotion of education, health, mineral, communication, livestock and agriculture sectors to bring Fata at par with developed parts of the country.

He said establishment of durable peace was vital for progress and prosperity of Fata and no compromise would be made on law and order situation. He said time was not for when Fata would again be made cradle of peace and harmony.

The minister said a handful of anti-state elements would not be allowed to make hostage the tribesmen.

Shaukatullah Khan said tribal youth had shown mark in every field of life and time had come to take full advantage of their talents.

He said the completion of gigantic projects in Fata will herald a new era of prosperity.—APP

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