Action against poll graffiti

KHAR, April 21: The local administration on Sunday launched an operation to remove political wall chalking and billboards in Bajaur tribal region.

An official of the administration told Dawn the operation against the election graffiti had been launched on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan. The official said personnel of Bajaur Levies were talking part in the operation, adding various spots had already been cleared of the wall chalking.

The official said that the administration had asked all the political parties and candidates to remove the wall chalking and billboards but they did not abide by the orders, forcing the administration to launch the action. — Correspondent

Outlaws arrested in Kohat

KOHAT, April 21: The police on Sunday arrested 37 outlaws and 136 suspects in connection with the efforts to ensure peaceful environment during coming elections.

The district police officer, in a statement, said that nobody would be allowed to sabotage the elections.

The police seized one Kalashnikov, one shotgun and four rifles from the outlaws. The DPO asked all the police stations to conduct search operations in their respective jurisdictions against anti-social elements on daily basis.—Correspondent

Blast victims laid to rest

KHAR, April 21: The victims of the Saturday’s suicide bombing at the main gate of agency headquarters hospital in Khar were laid to rest on Sunday.

Local people said the four victims of the blast, carried out by a female bomber, were buried at their ancestral cemeteries.An official said a soldier of Levies force and a worker of the local health department were buried with state honour.

Their funeral prayers were attended by senior officials of the local administration, security forces, tribal elders, leaders of various political parties and people from all walks of life.

Meanwhile, the administration beefed up security in the region as hundreds of additional personnel of Levies were deployed at public places, trade centres and sensitive areas of the region. An official told reporters the decision was taken at a meeting of the senior officials of the administration on Sunday.

The meeting also decided to set up new check posts in the sensitive areas.—Correspondent

ECP yet to issue final list

UPPER DIR, April 21: Though the local election commission has not yet issued the final list of candidates contesting elections from Upper Dir, 10 potential contestants for the lone national assembly seat are left for the final battle, sources revealed.

The frontrunners for the NA-33 include PPP's Najmuddin Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami's Sahibzada Tariqullah, JUI-F's Maulana Fazle Azim and PML-N's Mohammad Zeb.

There are eight candidates who will battle for PK-91, an important constituency where the district headquarters Dir is situated. PPP's Shakirullah, JI's Inayatullah, ANP's Naveed Khan, JUI-F's Inamullah Khan, PML-N's Mohammad Nisar Khan Wardag are main contenders for the seat.

In PK-92, 10 candidates of different parties are left in the run for this provincial constituency, including PPP's Badshah Saleh, JI's Mohammad Ali, JUI-F's Spin Khan and ANP's Bacha Mohammad.

Nine candidates are contesting on PK-93, including PPP's Sahibzada Sanaullah, JI's Malik Bahram Khan, PML-N's Fakhar Hayat and ANP's Raja.—Correspondent

PTI launches poll campaign

LANDI KOTAL, April 21: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf formally launched its election campaign in Khyber Agency on Sunday after the party announced its candidates for the two national assembly seats for Khyber.

Hundreds of party activists, mostly young people converged at the PTI main election office in Jamrud and later took out a vehicular procession.

The PTI procession first reached Malagori via Ghundi area and then Loe Shalman by taking the marble route of Shagai-Shalman. A public meeting was organised at Landi Kotal upon the conclusion of the procession which took more than ten hours to cover a distance of 70 kilometers.

PTI awarded its ticket for NA-45 to Khan Shed Afridi, a scion of a wealthy family from Jamrud, and for NA-46 to Iqbal Afridi, an old party activist from Bara.—Correspondent

Protection of health facilities

KHAR, April 21: In reaction to the suicide attack at the agency headquarters hospital in Bajaur on Saturday, the leading international medical humanitarian organisation Médecines Sans Frontières (MSF) has called for protection of health infrastructure from violence.

In a statement on Sunday, the MSF said it had been working in Bajaur near Afghanistan border and called for respect for the safety and security of patients, health facilities, and medical staff.

All actors in the area must ensure that medical activities can take place unhindered and not be targeted, it said.

Since March, 2013, MSF medical teams have been running a mobile clinic in Bajaur, providing primary healthcare services in three basic healthcare units providing treatment to 200 patients per week.—APP

Newborn dies at hospital

LANDI KOTAL, April 21: Shortage of oxygen gas in Landi Kotal hospital allegedly caused the death of a newborn baby, while a nine years old boy was killed in a road accident on Sunday.

Family sources said their newborn baby could not be provided oxygen soon after birth at the labour room of the agency headquarters hospital. The parents rushed the baby to a nearby private hospital but the baby could not survive.

Father of the baby, Miraj Khan, demanded of the health authorities to take action against the concerned staff members. Staff members, however, contended that the baby died of abnormal delivery and not due to oxygen shortage. They said the cylinders at the facility were full of life saving gas.

Meanwhile, a nine years old boy was killed when hit by a speeding van. Local khasadar force took the driver of the vehicle into custody.—Correspondent

Consensus candidate named

PESHAWAR, April 21: As many as six notables from Parachinar have decided to join hands to put up a strong show against other contesting candidates from different political parties on NA-37 seat in the forthcoming elections.

The six elders of the area, including Ibrar Hussain Jan, Haji Asghar Hussain, Zahid Hussain, Saqlain Abbas, Mumtaz Bhai and Rajab Ali, named the consensus candidate for the elections on NA-37, at a public meeting.

Speaking on the occasion they said they had joined hands in order to solve the problems of unemployment and lawlessness in the area.

They said they would pose a formidable challenge to the candidates of PPP, JUI-F, MQM, ANP, PTI, Muttahida Tribal Party, All-Pakistan Muslim League and PML-N—APP