Bomb defused in Dera

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Dec 3: The bomb disposal squad on Monday safely defused an explosive device found near the Sherani colony area here.

BDS in-charge officer Inayatullah said the bomb was planted outside a house in the Sherani colony in the Gomal University police station limits.

He said the bomb experts reached the spot after receiving information from the locals about the presence of suspicious material in the area.

He said the safety wire and detonator had been blasted but the bomb failed to explode. He said the bomb weighted at least three kilogram.

Meanwhile, a man injured in the blast on Ashura died in a hospital in Multan, raising the toll from the explosion to nine. The victim, Ghulam Hasnain, was resident of Basti Deewala.

Meanwhile, the police arrested 20 more suspects in connection with the Ashura bomb blast.—Correspondent

Two shot dead in Lakki

LAKKI MARWAT, Dec 3: Two persons were shot dead in different incidents on Monday.

Police said Ismail, resident of Titterkhel village, was attacked by his rivals near the judicial complex on Lakki-Tajazai road. The police registered case against two accused, Khalil and Ihsanullah, residents of Titterkhel. Police said the accused party had a blood feud with the family of the deceased.

In another incident, a man was killed inside his house over a domestic dispute in Aezerkhel village of Darra Pezu town.

Police said the accused Arifullah, Shafiullah, Asghar and Halim entered the house of Saeed Khan and opened fire on his son Mohammad Riaz, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, DPO Mohammad Idrees Khan claimed on Monday that during a month-long operation against anti-social elements, law enforcers arrested 122 proclaimed offenders and 452 suspects.—Correspondent

Nighat Orakzai to join PPP

PESHAWAR, Dec 3: PML-Q’s Nighat Orakzai will join PPP today (Tuesday) during a press conference.

While talking to this correspondent on Monday, the woman lawmaker said she had resigned from his official party responsibilities on Saturday and expected that the party (PML-Q) leadership would redress her grievances but none of the leaders bothered to contact her and thus she decided to part ways with it.

“As I resigned from the PML-Q’s provincial information secretary most parties, including PML-N, ANP and Qaumi Watan Party, contacted me but I decided to join the PPP,” she said and appreciated all those contacted her in this connection.—Bureau Report

Oil tanker owners hold demo

PESHAWAR, Dec 3: The All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association has expressed concern over the kidnapping of its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter president Nasir Khan and warned to stop oil supply if he is not recovered within 72 hours.

The announcement was made by the association’s members at a protest rally at Sher Shah Suri Road outside Peshawar Press Club on Monday. The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with demands for early recovery of the kidnapped leader.

They threatened that if their president was not safely recovered within 72 hours they would stop oil supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fata and Peshawar airport.

The association’s central general secretary Nawab Sher Afridi said Mr Nasir was kidnapped on Nov 29 from his residence at Pabbi, but police failed to recover him.—Bureau Report

Young man shot dead

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Dec 3: A young man was shot dead allegedly by his rivals over a women’s dispute in village Amakheil, 20 kilometers east off here, police said on Monday.

The victim, Farmanullah Kundi, 25, was outside his house when the attackers opened fire on him. He died instantly.

The Mullazai police station registered the case against Qismatullah Shadi Kheil on the complaint of Mohammad Hayat, uncle of Farmanullah. The accused escaped the area after the incident.—Correspondent

PPP activists hold rally

LAKKI MARWAT, Dec 3: PPP activists took out a rally in Naurang town on Monday to mark the 45th foundation day of the party. PPP district chapter president Iqbal Hussain advocate led the rally which started from the degree college and converged at Pasban plaza after passing through different bazaars.

Speaking on the occasion, Iqbal Hussain and other party leaders said PPP was the only political party that rendered sacrifices for democracy and rule of law. They said the dictatorial regimes could not wash out love for Bhuttos from the minds of people.They pledged that under the leadership of President Zardari and provincial president Anwar Saifullah, the mission of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be fulfilled.  They accused the ANP-led government of cornering the PPP workers.—Correspondent

Small dam to be built

KOHAT, Dec 3: Provincial Housing Minister Amjid Khan Afridi has announced that a small dam will be constructed in backward Sheikh Allahdad area with a cost of Rs700 million.

The minister said this while addressing a public meeting in Jarma area of Kohat along with his brother Minister of State for Trade Abbas Afridi and father Shamim Afridi, who is a candidate for the National Assembly seat from Kohat.

The site for the dam has been selected in Zameer Gul area near the Punjab border and it would change fate of the people, he said.

The minister informed that the chief minister had approved four girls and boys colleges for Kohat. He said the government would provide gas to 29 villages. —Correspondent

Uplift at grassroots level

PESHAWAR, Dec 3: Representatives of local community organisations from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata on Monday pledged to overcome the challenges to further boost the development concept at the grassroots level.

The pledge was made during a two-day workshop “a step towards sustainability of people's organisations,” organised by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) here. About 150 members of the local community organisations attended the workshop.

“SRSP is the first organisation to reach our area and motivate the people to develop community organisations to solve our problems on self-help basis,” said Zahir Shah, hailing from Sazeen union council of Kohistan district. He said through the local community organization, they had established a vegetable market in the area.—Bureau Report