Four new checkposts set up

LANDI KOTAL, July 6: Security forces on Friday established four new checkposts in Shalobar area of Bara.

Officials said the posts were established in order to beef up security in Shalobar and ensure safety of the forces operating in the area.

The posts were established at private houses in Swati Qabristan, Khalil ur Rehman road, Naw Gazee Baba and Nawab Plastic factory areas. A heavy contingent of FC has also been deployed at the newly established checkposts alongside an imposition of curfew in the said localities to avoid any attack on the new posts.

Forces are already in occupation of houses of Haji Mohammad, Dr Niaz Badshah, Haji Swat Khan and Haji Yasin Kali.

The new steps were taken after militants targeted a military vehicle in Qambar Abad on June 28 with an improvised explosive device thus killing at least 8 soldiers, including an official, and injuring three others. —Correspondent  

NAB gets remand of fraudster

PESHAWAR, July 6: The National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday got 14-day physical remand of Sufi Ikram Elahi, Chief Executive of M/S Kabir Aluminum, who is allegedly involved in fraudulent withdrawal of sales tax refund of over Rs471 million.

The accused had been absconder since 2006 along with his close family members and was arrested from Lahore airport while travelling from UAE to Pakistan by FIA immigration staff on a tip-off from the income tax department on Thursday night.  He was handed over to NAB KP authorities for further investigation.

According to a statement, the judge of the accountability court No. 4, Peshawar, handed the accused over to NAB KP for 14 days of physical remand.  Efforts for the arrest of other accused in the case are underway to ensure full recovery. —Bureau Report

Govt office looted

KARAK, July 6: Unidentified robbers took away Rs3.5 million from the office of communication and works department at the official colony in Karak city on the night between Thursday and Friday.

Officials said the burglars broke into the C&W office some time during the night breaking the locks and took away Rs3.5 million from the room of senior clerk Haji Nazir.

The police claimed to have arrested four suspects on charges of involvement in the theft. Officials said the police collected evidence and sent the fingerprints for examination to the laboratory in Peshawar. Names of the detained accused were not revealed.

Meanwhile, the police arrested a proclaimed offender along with a motorcycle in the Latambar area and recovered a pistol form him. —Correspondent

School reconstructed

GHALANAI, July 6: Additional political agent, Mohmand Agency, Said Ahmad Jan on Friday inaugurated a school reconstructed with the assistance of Norwegian Refugees Council (NRC) at Pandiali.

Addressing the ceremony, the additional PA said the tribesmen had always rendered sacrifices for restoring law and order situation in the area. He appreciated the role played by tribesmen of Pandiali against insurgency in the area.

He said the administration had started several developmental projects in different areas of the agency. “Now schools, health facilities, water supply schemes and roads will be reconstructed which were damaged in the militancy,” he said.

Agency education officer Said Mohammad, NRC representatives and a large number of local elders were present on the occasion. — Correspondent

Jirga settles enmity

KHAR, July 6: A jirga of tribal elders settled an old enmity between two families here on Friday.

The enmity between the two tribal elders, Malik Mohammad Gul and Malik Hai Gul, continued for more than three decades, claiming several lives from both sides.

The jirga comprising elders from different tribes persuaded the two sides to end the enmity. A ceremony in this connection was held at the residence of chief of Mamond tribe Malik Sultan Zeb Khan at Larkhalzo area of Mamond tehsil attended by various sub-tribes, political leaders, members and volunteers of peace committees and qaumi lashkar. Senior officials of the local administration were also present.

Speaking at the ceremony, chief of Mamond tribe Malik Sultan Zeb said the local disputes and enmities had remained a hurdle in the way of development. He urged the tribesmen to resolve their conflicts through peaceful means. —Correspondent

Call to end power outages

PESHAWAR, July 6: The activists of Jamaat-i-Islami have warned to besiege the houses of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and chief minister if the government failed to end the loadshedding in the province.

These views were expressed by JI provincial amir Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, central naib amir Sirijul Haq, and provincial general secretary Shabir Ahmed Khan, while speaking at a protest rally at Hashtnagri on Friday.

Leading a big rally from the G.T. Road to Chowk Yadgar via Ashraf Road the JI leaders criticised the government for its failure to bring an end to the excessive loadshedding. They said the rulers had focused on loot and plunder and had nothing to do with solution to the public problems.

Holding lanterns in their hands the protesters were shouting anti-government slogans and asked the rulers to admit failure and step down. —Bureau Report

Gas loadshedding

SWABI, July 6: The gas supply to many localities remains suspended during peak hours due to unknown reasons. And despite complaints by consumers and their visits to the SNGPL office the problem remains unresolved.

The residents of Palodand and Salim Shakh areas told media men on Friday that due to disruption in gas supply they faced problems especially at times of preparing food.

The consumers pointed out that there was no disruption in gas supply to other areas. “When we met the local distribution officer of SNGPL, Shah Alam, he assured us that they would no longer face any loadshedding but he failed to take practical steps, said Farooq Khan of Palodand region.—Correspondent