Schools threaten protest

TIMERGARA, Oct 22: All private schools and colleges management association, Lower Dir chapter, on Monday rejected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's proposed private schools regulatory authority and threatened to launch a protest campaign and close the institutions if the decision was not withdrawn.

Addressing a press conference at the Timergara Press Club, association’s district president Abdul Wadood Khan alleged the government’s decision to bring the new law would disturb the peaceful environment of the private educational institutions.

The association’s general secretary Asadullah Khan, press secretary Mushtaq Khan, deputy director Islami Nizam-i-Taleem Hazrat Mulk Shahi and others also expressed reservations over the decision and said it would discourage the private sector.

They said keeping in view the important role the private educational institutions were playing in the spread of education the government should create conducive environment for them to educate the nation.—Correspondent

Man seeks justice

MANSEHRA, Oct 22: A man has appealed to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti to help recover his two daughters and a son who he alleged were kidnapped by his wife and the driver of a provincial minister.

“The driver of a local minister is involved in the kidnapping of my two daughters and a minor son and is now threatening me to kill my kidnapped son if I approached media for help,” said Mohammad Latif, amid tears rolling down his face during a press conference here on Monday.

Mr Latif, who was flanked by a human rights activist Shahida Rehman, said his wife Tahira Bibi was involved in immoral activities for the last many years with the help of Mohammad Abid, the driver of a local minister and kidnapped his daughters Mehwish (15), Noor Fatima (13) and Ahtisham Ali (4) in June this year.—Correspondent

Call to reopen Lowari tunnel

CHITRAL, Oct 22: The residents of Chitral have demanded of the government to open the unfinished Lowari tunnel for the passengers as they faced hardships in crossing the Lowari Pass which has received first snowfall of the year.

The passengers reaching here from Peshawar on Monday told Dawn the NHA had closed the tunnel for the general public for no cogent reason as no work was in progress inside the tunnel.

Rahim Khan from lower Chitral said it took almost four hours to travel from Upper Dir to the Ziarat Post as the Lowari Top has received snow making it quite difficult for the vehicles to negotiate while through the tunnel it took only 45 minutes. He said a large number of passengers and goods vehicles were stranded on the road which had become slippery. The transporters have also increased the fares of passenger and goods vehicles.—Correspondent

Probe into prisoners’ death

PESHAWAR, Oct 22: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has ordered inquiry into the death of an under-trial prisoner Sajid, son of Sher Dil. Akhtar Saeed Turk, deputy secretary (development) of the home and tribal affairs department, has been appointed as inquiry officer in this regard.

Similarly, Mr Khalid Khan, section officer (prisons), working in the home and tribal affairs department, has also been appointed as inquiry officer to probe the death/suicide case of an under-trial prisoner namely Hakim Zaman alias Hakimi, son of Mir Waris, inside the central prison Bannu.

Both inquiry officers have been directed to submit their reports before the competent authority within the shortest possible time.—Bureau Report

Cycling body seeks funds

PESHAWAR, Oct 22: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cycling Association has accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association of avoiding giving the allocated funds to the former and demanded probe into the matter. Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday the cycling association’s president Syed Zahir Ali Shah said it was duty of the government to promote different games as the province was already hit hard by militancy and needed healthy activities.

Flanked by other office-bearers of the association, including general secretary Nisar Ahmed, he said the selection process of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association was in violation of the relevant rules and thus the matter had been taken to a court.

He said the cycling association had got only Rs0.4 million during 2011 which could not meet its requirements. “If the government is not ready to provide the required funds it would be injustice with the game and the players,” he maintained.—Bureau Report

Doctors demand jobs

PESHAWAR, Oct 22: Doctors community has expressed grave concern over the government’s failure to provide jobs to all those, who had qualified Public Service Commission examination in 2011-12.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press club on Monday, Dr Shakeel Khan said 1,200 doctors had qualified PSC examination but only 500 were recruited. Flanked by Dr Majid and Dr Afzal, he said some 2,000 seats of doctors in different healthcare centres of the province were still lying vacant but the government was least bothered to facilitate the people.