ABBOTTABAD, April 4 The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) has disconnected gas supply to Abbottabad district headquarters hospital and Women and Children Hospital for non-payment of dues.

The suspension of gas supply created problems not only for patients but also for nursing staff residing in the hostels.

The nursing staff observed a strike against the move, demanding immediate resumption of supply. A delegation of the nursing staff also met the district coordination officer (DCO) and urged him to take notice of the situation.

The nursing staff said they had been paying utility bills to administrations of both the hospitals, which were deducted from their salaries but managements failed to pay the dues which was not their fault.

SECTION 144 IMPOSED The district coordination officer has imposed section 144 banning holding of public meetings and religions congregations in the district. Entry of Mulana Ahmed Ludhianvi who is central leader of Markazi Ahle Sunnat, Pakistan, into Abbottabad, has also been banned.

The imposition of section 144 was meant to thwart holding of a Seerat conference by Ahle Sunnat at Dhamthore village on Saturday which was to be addressed by religious leaders.

ACCREDITATION GRANTED Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has granted accreditation to Engineering Faculty of Comsats Institute of Information and Technology, Abbottabad.

The Electrical Engineering faculty of the Comsats was not recognised by the PEC and two batches of graduates were running from pillar to post for admission at higher classes and seeking jobs but were unable to do so.

According to a press release, an application in this regard was submitted with the PEC two years back and different sub-committees of the council visited the faculty time and again and had recommended its accreditation. But due to reasons best known to the concerned sections, matter was delayed for more then two years.

A few days back over 250 affected students went on a four-day strike, which ended late on Friday night when minutes of the decision of the approval were circulated.