Three killed in Dera

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 4: Two teachers among three people were killed as incidents of targeted killings continued unabated in different areas of Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday.

Unknown motorcyclists opened fire on a schoolteacher Ashfaq Ahmed Baloch near petrol pump on Multan road while he was going to school in his car from Nobel town. He died on the spot.

In the second incident unknown assailants entered the house of 59-year-old Noor Din and stabbed him to death with daggers. The Cantt police lodged FIR against the killers and started investigation.

In the third incident unknown assailants opened fire on Prof Muneer Shah, teaching economics at Gomal University, at the main gate of the university the other day. The district administration has beefed up security after the growing incidents of violence. — CorrespondentLand dispute claims 2 livesKARAK, Jan 4: A land dispute claimed two lives here on Tuesday in the jurisdiction of Sabirabad police station.

Police said that two rival groups opened firing on each other over a dispute on a piece of land and as a result Haq Nawaz and Gul Rahim of same family of Ghundi Mir Khankhel were killed on the spot. Sabirabad police registered FIR against the accused. — Correspondent

Factory owner convictedPESHAWAR, Jan 4: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa environmental tribunal has convicted owner of a match factory for not properly treating factory effluent and fined him Rs20,000.

The tribunal headed by its chairperson Mussarat Hillali, and comprising its member (legal) Mohammad Farooq Khan and member (technical) Abdul Kareem Kasuria, observed that the accused, Abdul Rauf, owner of Khyber Match Factory, had violated provisions of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, as the settling tank in the factory was non-functional due to which the treatment of effluents from the unit was not proper.

The case against the accused was filed by the provincial Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which stated that their experts had visited the factory and found out that the settling tank was non-functional. It is alleged that a notice was served upon the management of the factory but the said tank was not made functional. — Bureau Report

Postal workers hold demoPESHAWAR, Jan 4: Hundreds of postal workers on Tuesday held a demonstration outside Peshawar Press Club against the government plan to privatise the postal service department and warned to stop duties in protest.

The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against privatisation of the department and warned to stage hunger strike against the plan.

Central leader of the workers Raza Khan was leading the protesters. He said the privatisation was against the interests of workers.

The postal service, he said, was income generating department and its privatisation would cause huge loss to the national exchequer and the workers as well.

“If the government did not withdraw its decision the workers will announce a nationwide protest campaign and halt services,” he said. — Bureau Report

Karak police performanceKARAK, Jan 4: Karak police arrested 922 proclaimed offenders and kidnappers and eliminated in encounters eight POs besides dismantling criminal gangs during 2010.

This was stated by DPO Sajid Ahmad Khan Mohmand while talking to media persons on Tuesday. He resolved the police would continue efforts against outlaws.

The DPO said ASIs Qismat Khan and Hakeem Khan and Rescue 15 in-charge Abid Khan Afridi had been declared the best performers.

He said ringleader of a kidnapping gang Rahmatullah along with accomplices was arrested who was wanted in 34 cases.

The DPO said constable Mohammad Riaz got killed in a suicide blast and five other constables were injured during encounters with the criminals, adding, a huge quantity of arms and contraband were also seized from the criminals. —Correspondent

Taseer’s murder condemnedPESHAWAR, Jan 4: Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti have strongly condemned cold blooded murder of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

In separate statements here on Tuesday they expressed profound grief and sorrow over the governor’s death and termed his murder a great loss to the country and the PPP.

They expressed solidarity with PPP leadership and workers and family members of the deceased on behalf of the people and government of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The extremist elements, the statements said, were great threat and challenge of the time and this incident itself was live example of the gravity of the situation.

They appealed to the people to maintain unity in their ranks and steadfastly struggle against extremism and terrorism. They also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with patience. — Bureau Report

Year of ChemistryPESHAWAR, Jan 4: “International Year of Chemistry”, declared by the UN as the year 2011, started with Madam Curie Memorial Lectures at the Convocation Hall of the University of Peshawar on Tuesday.

The slogan of the year is “Chemistry Our Life Our Future”. The Institute of Chemical Sciences (ICS), University of Peshawar, organised the function.

The hall was decorated with banners, flags, flowers and placards with quotations of Madame Curie. Faculty and students from ICS, Islamia CollegeUniversity and Jinnah College for Women also participated. Dr Fida Mohammad, Prof GIKI spoke about the importance of Chemistry.

He mentioned the need for a change in science curriculum and recruitment of qualified faculty for teaching chemistry.

DR Ihsanullah delivered a comprehensive lecture on Madame Curie’s life and her contributions to nuclear Chemistry. He also talked about the use of radiation in food preservation.—APP

PPP cancels programmesPESHAWAR Jan 4: The Pakistan People’s Party, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday night canceled all its programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of Qaid-i-Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed following the brutal murder of Governor Punjab Salam Taseer.

Zahir Shah Toru, in-charge PPP Secretariat told APP that following the assassination of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer in Islamabad, the party had decided to cancel all its programmes planned to mark the birth anniversary of the charismatic leader on Wednesday. He said that party had decided to observe two weeks mourning over bloody murder of the governor Punjab.—APP