HAGERSTOWN (USA): Family members of an American development expert kidnapped in Pakistan by Al Qaeda more than two years ago said on Thursday a recently released video and letter haven`t convinced them he`s alive. Warren Weinstein`s wife, two daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren released a statement asking for `datespecific` confirmation that the 72-year-old is alive and well. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will need Rs18 billion to implement the proposed higher education reform programme that underlines a three-year roadmap for improving regulatory framework, academic standards, departmental functions, and institutional output. The provincial government`s working group set up to recommend reforms in the higher education sector has pointed out the regulations that need improvements, set timelines for the reforms to take effect, recommended the establishment of some new institutions, and proposed measures to improve quality of higher education institutions. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: The delimitation campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has entered final stage with the province divided into 3,170 village and neighbourhood councils, according to the relevant officials. Of these local bodies, 2,679 are village councils and 491 neighbourhood councils, the officials said, adding that preparations for the upcoming local government elections are underway. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen on Friday shot dead a taxi driver in Badhber area on the outskirts of the provincial capital here on Friday. A complainant, Mohammad Ali, brother of the deceased, Mohammad Zaman, told police that his brother was killed by unidentified people while he was on way to Peshawar. He said the gunmen also took his taxi away. Dawn, The News.
LAKKI MARWAT: Two people, including a woman, were killed and two others sustained injuries when two groups clashed in Kotka Fateh Khankhel here on Friday. An official at Shaheed Asmatullah Khan Khattak police station in Naurang town said the two groups have had a dispute over women. Dawn, The News.
KARAK: The residents of Banda Daud Shah tehsil on Friday observed complete strike and blocked the Banda-Gurguri road for traffic in protest against low gas pressure in the area and indifferent attitude of the oil and gas exploration companies to solve their problems. The protesters, led by Amn Committee president Azeem Khan, Maqbool Rehman and Abdul Azeem, marched in Teri city and blocked the Banda Gurguri road. The traders also observed complete shutdown to express solidarity with the protesting residents. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday said the one-sided stay orders issued by the lower judiclary in posting and transfer of government servants and other official issues had been hampering the efforts of the government to ensure good governance and quick disposal of day-today official business. Dawn.
ORAKZAI: Atleast one person was killed and three other injured when a bomb blast ripped through a seminary in the Oragzai Agency. According to the Political Administration, the blast occurred in Madrassa Siddiquia in Mishti Mela area on Friday. Frontier Post, The News.
ISLAMABAD: Reacting to criticism on the controversial Kala Bagh Dam issue, the PTI Chairman Imran Khan said on Friday that the dam could not be built without national consensus. Khan issued the statement in response to ANP’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain for allegedly misrepresenting PTI’s position on the issue of Kala Bagh Dam. Frontier Post.
PESHAWAR: Despite the repeated denial by the Government and the Taliban sources, it has been reported that the peace talks between the government and Taliban were underway in one way or the other. According to a local newspaper, JUI-S delegation arrived in WANA on the first death anniversary of Mulla NAzir who was killed in a drone strike in 2013 Frontier Post.
PESHAWAR: A total of arounf 0.7 million children will be immune against polio through anti-polio vaccination campaign to be started in South Waziristan Agency and other areas of FATA starting from January 6th. Frontier Post.
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief Azam Khan Swati Friday visited the Ring Road sit-in camp in an effort to shore up the protest that has apparently blocked Nato supplies to Afghanistan. The News, Daily Mashriq.
JAMRUD: The security forces and Khassadar force arrested 130 suspected persons in a joint search operation in the Jamrud teshil of the Khyber Agency on Friday, official sources said.The sources said the security forces had imposed curfew before the search operation against the criminals in Chaparai area in the Jamrud tehsil. Up to 130 suspected persons were taken into custody during the search. However, 100 persons were released after an interrogation. The News.
PESHAWAR: Amn Jirga Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief Syed Kamal Shah Friday condemned the kidnapping of Dr. Ahmad Zia and demanded the PTI led government to take practical steps for his early and safe recovery. In a statement, Kamal Shah criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its failure to provide protection to the common people. He said Peshawar has become a safe haven for criminals as kidnapping for ransom had become the order of the day. The News.
ISLAMABAD: Kashmir Committee Chairman and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has disclosed that the framework for initiating dialogue with the Taliban is ready and if the government gives him go-ahead, the process of talks could be started immediately. The News.
LAKI MARWAT: PPP District President Advocate Iqbal Hussain has called a seminar on 5th January (Sunday) to mark the 85th birth anniversary of Mr. Zulfiqar Bhutto. A cake will also be cut on the occasion. Daily Mashriq.