NEWS IN BRIEF

Reconciliation committees KARAK, March 31: The reconciliation committees at the police station level would be made more affective to resolve the public disputes instead of going to courts, said the DPO while addressing members of the reconciliation committees here on Thursday. The DPO said since the committees started functioning after their formation in 2009 pressure on courts had reduced considerably. He added reconciliation committees were the new shape of jirga system which was the part of Pakhtun culture. The DPO said so far hundreds of disputes of serious nature had been settled by the committees comprising respectable citizens. He assured the committees that police would extend full support to them in resolving the disputes. —Correspondent Annual day PESHAWAR, March 31: Annual day of the Law College, University of Peshawar, was held on Thursday in which more than forty students who got distinction in curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities were given away shields and certificates by the chief guest Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Azmat Hayat Khan. A press release issued here said principal Law College, Prof Dr Adnan Sarwar Khan, while presenting the annual performance of the college, said the pass percentage this year was 80 per cent which was highest in twenty years. Dr Adnan said apart from these achievements, the students had won several distinctions in extra-curricular activities as well. Recently, a student had won a competition in France. The chief guest said Law College was once one of the best colleges of Pakistan and efforts were needed to make it the best again. —Bureau Report Development schemes KOHAT, March 31: The district development committee (DDC) on Thursday approved Rs13.7 million from the Khushal Pakistan Fund for 32 development projects. DCO Shahidullah Khan who is also the chairman of the DDC asked the heads of line departments and parliamentarians to identity the land for the development projects before preparation of PC-1. He gave approval of 21 projects costing Rs6 million and 11 general schemes at a cost of Rs7.25 million to be carried out in the three provincial assembly constituencies. Meanwhile, the police claimed to have found the body of a proclaimed offender 19 days after he had jumped into the River Indus during exchange of fire. Officials said Arif Khan had jumped into the river to avoid arrest in police encounter near Shadipur area. People of Pasta Sanda informed the police of the body. —Correspondent Juvenile prisoners BUNER, March 31: The Child Rights Committee at its monthly meeting on Thursday expressed concern over lack of facilities for under age detainees at sub-jail Daggar where there was no separate section for them. The participants of the meeting, chaired by district coordinator Inamur Rehman advocate and attended by active members, said despite issuance of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance, condition of the underage prisoners was still pathetic. The meeting said juvenile section was a must under the ordinance but the sub-jail Daggar lacked such a facility. They said the 17 underage detainees at the jail had time and again raised the issue but to no effect. Therefore, the meeting decided in principal to raise the issue at high level. —Correspondent Professors appointed PESHAWAR, March 31: Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has approved ad-hoc based appointment of eight associate professors for Bannu Medical College and Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital (KGNTH) for one year or till availability of Public Service Commission selected faculty, upon recommendation of departmental selection committee, says a handout. The step will remove hurdles in recognition of BMC and KGNTH to Pakistan Medical Dental Council. A requisition has also been sent to PSC regarding filling of vacant seats in these institutes while the PSC has issued an NOC in light of needs of the college and hospital. —Bureau Report Attack condemned PESHAWAR, March 31: Politicians condemned attack on convoy of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F in Charsadda on Thursday while Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti directed heightened security for the JUI-F leaders. In separate statements, ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan, Chief Minister Hoti, Senator Afrasiab Khattak and former JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad expressed deep concern over the killing of innocent people including police officials, and showed solidarity with the JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Suicide bomber attacked a convoy carrying JUI chief in Charsadda, killing 12 people and wounding 32 others. Maulana Fazlur Rehman survived the attack. JUI will hold protest rallies across the province on Friday (today) against the attacks. Asfandyar Wali and Afrasiab Khattak said some elements were trying to vitiate political atmosphere in the province. Mr Hoti directed administrations of Charsadda DHQ hospital and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar for provision of better treatment facilities to the injured. —Bureau Report JUI-F meeting MARDAN, March 31: The JUI-F held a public meeting at railway station ground here on Thursday in the wake of two suicide attacks on its leadership including Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Swabi and Charsadda districts. The JUI-F leaders strongly condemned the suicide attacks on the JUI leadership and termed it a foreign conspiracy. They said the party leadership was on the hit list of the foreign spy agencies due to its firm stance against the influence of America and western countries in Pakistan's internal affairs.They made it clear that such kinds of attacks could not hold them back from their mission. They criticised the ANP leadership for pursing 'anti-Pakhtun policies' and deteriorating law and order situation in the province. —Correspondent