Briefs

Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto’s death anniversary observed

By our correspondent

SUKKUR: The 31st death anniversary of Shahnawaz Bhutto, son of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was observed by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan People’s Party (Shaheed Bhutto) at Naudero House and at Al Murtaza separately on Monday. Leaders and workers of both the parties gathered at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto to pay tribute to Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto for carrying forward the mission of his father, Z. A. Bhutto. Meanwhile, PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) arranged Quran Khwani at Al Murtaza House in Larkana and distributed food among the poor and the needy on the eve of Shahnawaz Bhutto’s 31st death anniversary.

 

Woman found dead, child dies in accident

By our correspondent

SUKKUR: A woman, Nadia Malik, was found dead at her home in Azim Colony in Sakrand by her brother.   Muhammad Raza told the police that he had gone to see his sister at her house, but when she failed to open the door, he forced his way into the house only to find his sister lying dead.   It was said that her body had some marks of torture. Police are investigating. In a separate incident, a trailer hit a motorcycle, killing a five-year-old boy, Ghulam Muhammad, and injuring his parents, Najma and Ali Jan. Meanwhile, a councilor of UC Shamsabad in Sukkur, Amir Bhutto, was critically injured in a mysterious fire while he had been supervising city cleanliness drive. He was shifted to Sukkur Hospital. a

 

LHC not to have more regional benches

By our correspondent

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Full Court has turned down the long-lasting demand of lawyers for setting up regional benches at five districts after having lengthy deliberations for three days. The Full Court, comprising Chief Justice and all the judges met for three days (July 15 to 17) to deliberate on the question of establishing additional benches in five division of Punjab. After extensive deliberation the full court ruled that the demand establishing of new additional benches of Lahore High Court cannot be acceded to. Punjab governor had written a letter to the LHC on March 18, 2013 and the LHC CJ has conveyed the full court decision to governor.

 

Prayer leader killed in Swat

By our correspondent

MINGORA: Unidentified gunmen killed a prayer leader inside a mosque in the Marghuzar area of Swat district, official sources said on Monday.They said prayer leader Abdul Wadud was shot dead at a mosque in the scenic Marghuzar area of Saidu Sharif. The attackers escaped after committing the crime.Later, the police started a search operation to arrest the perpetrators but in vain. The Saidu Sharif police registered a case against unknown gunmen and started an investigation.

 

                               

PML-N leaders join PTI

TOBA TEK SINGH: PML-N local leaders Monday announced joining the PTI in a press conference.Rajana PML-N president Mehr Muhammad Rashid, secretary general Seth Sultan, secretary information Dr Akram Chaudhry, Rajana PML-N Youth Wing president Muhammad Ijaz and other activists announced quitting the PML-N.

 

Corrigendum

Apropos the news item "This is the right time to invest in Pakistan: SBP chief" published in The News on July 18, 2016, it is clarified that the net credit expansion to the private sector during FY16 (up till 24th June) was Rs332 billion as compared with Rs 179 billion in the corresponding period of FY15 (up till 26th June). This shows a year-on-year growth of 8.5 percent.

 

Woman killed, three children injured by neighbour

By our correspondent

TOBA TEK SINGH: A woman was killed while her three sons were injured by the firing of her neighbour in Gojra on Monday. There was a dispute between Zahid Manzoor and her neighbour Ameena Bibi. On the day of the incident, Zahid Manzoor with his two brothers allegedly opened firing on Ameena’s house. Ameena was killed on the spot while her children Sheroze, Mehroze and Zahid were seriously injured. They were first shifted to the Gojra THQ Hospital from where two of them were taken to the Faisalabad Allied Hospital.

 

KP contractor released after plea bargain with NAB

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Monday issued release order of a government contractor after he entered into a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Maghul Baaz, a government contractor from Chitral, was arrested for allegedly embezzling Rs2.76 million in purchase of ambulance for Regional Health Centre in the Chitral district. The accountability court headed by Asim Imam approved the plea bargain application moved by the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after it was accepted by the NAB chairman. The NAB had arrested the accused for his alleged involvement in purchase of substandard ambulance and allegedly embezzling Rs3 million. The bureau had claimed that the contractor had purchased the ambulance at a very low price and claimed Rs3 million, thus causing Rs2.76 million loss to the exchequer.

 

Man arrested for attacking police

By our correspondent

CHARSADDA: Police arrested an attacker in an injured condition from a hospital in Takhtbhai who along with his aides had allegedly fired at a police patrolling vehicle in the limits of Mandani Police Station, official sources said on Monday. They said a police mobile vehicle was patrolling near the Bagh area of Mandani late Sunday when armed motorcyclists opened fire at the policemen. The cops returned the fire and injured one of the attackers. However, all of them managed to escape leaving behind the motorcycle, a pistol and a mobile phone, sources said. The patrolling party remained safe in the late night attack. On a tip-off, police raided Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Ganjai area of Takhtbhai and arrested the wounded attacker. Meanwhile, police registered a case against the attackers and raids were being carried out at different areas in both Charsadda and the adjoining Takhtbhai tehsil of Mardan district to nab the absconding accused.

 

DSP suspended over misuse of powers

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani has suspended a police officer and ordered registration of criminal case against him on the charges of misuse of powers and carrying out illegal activities. A statement from the Police Department said a citizen of Peshawar had complained to the IGP that the Deputy Superintendent of Police PQR, Muhammad Nawaz, was involved in misuse of powers and illegal activities. The IGP got the allegations probed through relevant police officers. The investigation officers found the complaint genuine and recommended action against the DSP. The IGP in light of the enquiry report suspended DSP PQR Muhammad Nawaz with immediate effect. He also ordered registration of a criminal case against him.

 

28 suspects arrested in Kohat

By our correspondent

KOHAT: The police arrested 28 suspected persons during a search operation in Bilitang and Ustarzai areas on Monday, official sources said. They said the police launched a search operation against the outlaws in the limits of the Bilitang and Ustarzai Police Stations and arrested 28 suspects. The police recovered two Kalashnikovs, four pistols, three guns, three repeaters, two rifles, ammunition and three kg of hashish from their possession.  The police shifted the held persons to the relevant police stations and started investigation.

 

Property dealers protest taxes

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: The Property Dealers Association on Monday staged a demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club to protest against what they termed unjustified taxes. Led by Mazhar Wakeel Durrani, the protesters were carrying banners inscribed with slogans. They complained that the federal government had made life difficult for the people by imposing taxes. The speakers asked the government to withdraw the taxes.

 

One killed in Peshawar firing

By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: One person was killed and five others were wounded in firing between two parties in Garhi Atta Mohammad on Monday. Locals said Gul Khan and his sons opened fire on their rivals, injuring two of them. The rival party also opened fire that killed Gul Khan and wounded his two sons and wife. Police have lodged cases from both sides. The two parties had dispute over property for a long time.

 

HARIPUR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq said on Monday his party had the capacity to introduce clean governance in the country. He was speaking to media during his visit to the residence of former chief of JI and president of the District Bar Association Haripur, late Syed Lal Hussain Shah. He was there to offer condolence to the family. Provincial chief of his party Mushtaq Ahmed Khan also accompanied him.

 

TOBA TEK SINGH: JI activists took out a rally to condemn Indian atrocities on innocent Kashmiris in Indian Held Kashmir here on Monday. —Correspondent

 

Adjournment motion in Punjab Assembly

over Qandeel’s murder

By our correspondent

LAHORE: PML-N MPA Hina Butt has submitted an adjournment motion in the Punjab Assembly Secretariat over the killing of model Qandeel Baloch. Qandeel was murdered by her brother in Multan in the name of honour. The MPA in the adjournment motion stated the killing of Qandeel Baloch in the name of honour caused a serious stir in the ranks of NGOs, civil society and posed a question mark for the government. She demanded a debate over the incident and strict action against the murderer.

 

LHC turns down demand for regional benches

By our correspondent

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Full Court has turned down the long-lasting demand of lawyers for setting up regional benches at five districts after having lengthy deliberations for three days. According to a press release issued by the LHC on Monday, the Full Court, comprising Chief Justice and all the judges met for three days (July 15 to 17) to deliberate on the question of establishing additional benches in five divisions of Punjab. After extensive deliberation, the full court ruled that the demand for establishing of new additional benches of Lahore High Court cannot be acceded to. The Punjab governor had written a letter to the LHC on March 18, 2013 and the LHC CJ has conveyed the full court’s decision to governor.

 

IHC adjourns Haj scam case till tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) adjourned the plea moved by former joint secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Raja Aftabul Islam, against his imprisonment in the Haj corruption case and imposed a fine of approximately Rs147.4 million till July 20. A single judge bench of Chief Justice Anwar Khan Kasi adjourned the case without hearing due to non-availability of the state counsel; however, counsel for the petitioner appeared before the bench. A special court, while hearing the Haj corruption case, sentenced the petitioner ex-director general Haj Rao Shakeel and the former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi to six years in prison each on two counts. Subsequently, they approached the IHC against the imprisonment.

 

Punjab to introduce new cotton varieties

By our correspondent

LAHORE: The Punjab government will introduce new cotton varieties under the agriculture package announced by the chief minister. This was stated by Dr Farrukh Javaid, provincial Minister for Agriculture, who was chairing meeting of Seed Council here on Monday. He said the government was making efforts for increase in cotton production and development of a vibrant seed sector. Talking about the cotton crop, he said farmers were fetching a good price of Rs3,000 per maund of cotton being sold in the market, which was a good development. The meeting also approved 24 seed varieties of various crops.