Jammers for jails in KP

PESHAWAR, Aug 1: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has finalised purchase plan of jammers for prisons in the current financial year’s Annual Development Programme (ADP). A project called “Enhancing security of prisons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” has been included in the ADP with a cost of Rs350 million.

A statement issued by the home and tribal affairs department on Wednesday said that the scheme was aimed at strengthening the security of jails by purchasing different equipment including jammers, etc.

Moreover, through another ADP scheme the home department intends to switch over all jails to solar energy with a cost of Rs100 million keeping in view of their important security needs. —Bureau Report

Proclaimed offenders arrested

KOHAT, Aug 1: The Kohat police arrested 93 proclaimed offenders and 637 other criminals during operations in July last, a statement issued here on Wednesday said.

The district police officer, Dilawar Khan Bangash, who took charge of his post at the end of last month, in a statement claimed that the police arrested 93 POs and hundreds of criminals and seized a huge quantity of arms and explosives from their possession.

The seizure weapons included 53 Kalashnikovs, nine Kalakovs, 33 rifles, 86 shotguns, 246 pistols, three Sten guns and 53 kilograms of explosives and a huge cache of drugs. —Correspondent

Damage to properties

LAKKI MARWAT, Aug 1: A jirga of urban locality of Lakki Marwat has said that the elders of Abakhel and Dallokhel villages were responsible for the damages caused to public and private properties during a protest demonstration by the villagers against power outages on Tuesday.

The jirga held its session in the Meenakhel area here on Wednesday and decided that former union nazim Johar Mohammad and JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdur Rahim, who led the protesters, would not be allowed to enter Lakki city.

The jirga also decided to stop the shopkeepers and traders belonging to Abakhel and Dallokhel villages not to open their shops in the Lakki city till the resolution of the issue.

They said the local administration and police did not act promptly to stop the protesters from attacking and ransacking government and private properties. —Correspondent

Schools reopen in Bajaur

KHAR, Aug 1: The government-run educational institutions reopened after one month summer vacations in Bajaur tribal region on Wednesday.

According to the agency education deportment, all schools and colleges in the public sector have reopened after the summer holidays.

However, tribesmen said, only a few schools opened on Wednesday. “Although the summer vacations in all the educational institutions of the agency have ended but all colleges including government postgraduate degree college Khar, government degree college Khar Barkhallozo, government higher secondary school for girls, government degree college Nawagai and Zor Bandar and government college of management science Khar were still closed,” students told Dawn.

Officials said that the administration had issued the notification about reopening of the educational institutions. He added that the department would take serious action against those staff members who were absent from their duty. —Correspondent

Unity urged to restore peace

PESHAWAR, Aug 1: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kauser has said that bringing peace to the tribal areas is a difficult job but the tribal people can face this challenge if they join hands with the government.

He was talking to political parties, parliamentarians and prominent elders from tribal areas at Pakhtunkhwa House, Islamabad.

He said he wanted to promote political environment in Fata to bring political awareness and social development in Fata. He added that no one in the world could defeat us if we join hands with each other.

On the occasion, the tribal representatives gave their suggestions regarding political reforms in Fata which included establishment of Fata council to implement the reforms, a mechanism to downstream the reform to public, reservation of seats for women and participation of tribal people in development projects. —Bureau Report

Man shot dead in Dir

TIMERGARA, Aug 1: A man Mohammad Afzal Khan was killed when his cousin Muslim Khan allegedly opened fire on him over a petty issue at Kamangara Talash here on Wednesday.

The Talash police while quoting a relative of the deceased told that Afzal was killed by Muslim Khan on the spot after a brief exchange of harsh words.

The Talash police have registered a case and started investigation. —Correspondent

ANP urged to quit govt

KOHAT, Aug 1: The district president Awami National Party has urged the provincial government to quit the coalition if the problem of loadshedding is not solved within three days.

Talking to reporters, Syed Saeed Shah Bokhari said that Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa was generating own electricity but the unannounced and excessive loadshedding was beyond his understanding.

He criticised the government for carrying out power cuts even during Iftar and Sehri timings which had forced the masses to take to the streets even in hot weather.

He asked the Pesco chief to withdraw his statement that electricity theft was rampant in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa as compared with other provinces. He said that if it was so, then why the power thieves were not being apprehended? —Correspondent

Transport plan for Peshawar

PESHAWAR, Aug 1: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Transport and Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that his government is going all-out for an integrated transport plan for Peshawar with the help of government of Turkey and Argentina.

My recent visit to Turkey enriched my vision for an integrated communication system both roads and rail because our province is facing multifaceted challenges but the government has the courage to overcome them with a clear vision.

He made these remarks during an Iftar dinner organised by the Embassy of Argentina in Islamabad, says a handout issued here on Wednesday.

The minister said that the KP government had a concept which was being fine-tuned with the help of Turkey and Argentina for the province’s communication system and underscored the need for overhauling the existing transport system. —Bureau Report