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Chitral News briefs

Female hunter bags Markhor trophy: CHITRAL, 13 March 09::An American Lady hunted a 44 inches trophy Markhor at the Tooshi game reserve.  Shahzada Amir Hasanatuddin Gen Secy of Alburhan wild life conservation committee told this scribe that Ms Kathery of USA paid 84000 US$ to get the license. He said this was the first time that a lady hunted Markhor. --(GH Farooqi)

JUI  gathering welcomes Nizam e Adl :  CHITRAL, 13 March 09:: JUI held a public gathering in favour of the Nizam-e-Adl regulation in Chitral. Speakers said the people of Chitral appreciated the imposition of Nizam-e-Adl regulation and fully supported it.  Speakers condemned those  criticizing the imposition. They also criticised female staff of local NGO�s for not observing purda and mixing with male folk in public places. Among the speakers were ex MPA Maulana Jahangir, Moulana Bilinas, Major (r) Ahmed Saeed, Qazi Nasim etc.--(BH Azad)

Lowari road clearing demanded:  CHITRAL, 13 March 09: Due to closure of the land route and unreliability of air service, Chitralis are suffering grave travel problems plus high prices of daily use items. As snowfall season has ended and snow slides subsided on the Lowari pass, Chitralis demand launch of immediate and concerted effort to clear the Lowari pass road of snow and open it for traffic.--(CN report)

Students display discord:  CHITRAL, 09 March 09: Student members of the Chitral Students Welfare Association (CSWA) Islamabad were in the midst of dissention as allegations were traded by President Shafiqul Mulk and Chairman Talha Ibne Shah against each other and companions. Chitralis have requested the two factions of the association, to mend their fences and avoid bringing their discord to the press. --(CN report)

Chew Dok residents protest forced eviction: CHITRAL, 07 March 09: Residents of Chew Dok village of Chitral town protested evacuation of their houses by the Chitral Gol National Park Project administration. Led by Qazi Nasim and Haji Jalil, they addressed a press conference at the Chitral Press Club. They threatened they would migrate en-block to another country if they were pressed against the wall.--(BH Azad)

Three maimed by frost bite: CHITRAL, 03 March 09: Three persons namely Tama Jan s/o Phook Lali, Wor Gulab s/o Murad Ali and Khurshid s/o Mailas Khan, were severely frost bitten on the Shandur pass, while travelling from Gilgit to Yarkhun Lasht to condole the death earlier of their relatives who had succumbed after coming under an avalanche some days back. They have been admitted to the Booni hospital..--(GH Farooqi)

Fire guts houses in Drosh, Birir: CHITRAL, 01 March 09: Fire gutted a house of Abdul Razaq in Birir valley also damaging the adjacent boys middle school. Reason is unkno0wn so far. In another incident electric short circuit fire burnt the house of an Afghan refugee Abdullah in village Langa of Drosh. --(GH Farooqi)

Chitrali kidnapped in Afghanistan: CHITRAL, 28 Feb 09: A Chitrali passenger Ghafar Ali r/o Gohkir Mulkhow tehsil was kidnapped at Asmar while travelling from Peshawar to Chitral via Afghanistan, .Arandu Police opined that the kidnapped person's brother had some monetary dispute with some Afghan persons who may have committed the act.--(GH Farooqi)

Lawyers protest Sharifs disqualification: CHITRAL, 26 Feb 09: District Bar Association Chitral announced a three day boycott of courts to protest the decision of the superior court disqualifying Sharif brothers from taking part in active politics. --(GH Farooqi)

Local Shuffle in Chitral police : CHITRAL, 26 Feb 09:   According to notification of DPO office Chitral, Sultan Baig Sub Inspector was posted as SHO Booni, Sub Inspector Muhammad Rasool  was posted as Officer Investigation Tehsil Mulkho, Sub Inspector Muhammad Zafar was posted as SHO Ayun and Inspector Tariq Kaleem was posted as In-Charge Anti corruption section Chitral.--(GH Farooqi)

Woman survives suicide bid : CHITRAL, 26 Feb 09: A married woman from Broze was admitted to the DHQ hospital after attempting suicide by eating pesticide it was learnt here. Her condition is reported out of danger. The woman, a mother of two children is reported to be mentally weak. --(GH farooqi)

Pye-dogs multiplying in Chitral : CHITRAL, 26 Feb 09: Pye-dogs roaming the town streets of chitral are multiplying while the concerned authorities whose duty is to eliminate them have turned a blind eye to the menace. Cases of rabid dog bites are common in Chitral, with four persons dying of it in Arandu area, being an example. Anti rabies vaccine is also not available in govt hospitals.--(GH Farooqi)

Student gets gold medal: CHITRAL, 25 Feb 09: A Chitrali student Tashfin ud Din s/o Farid ud Din resident of  Dap Drosh District Chitral, has earned a Gold medal in BBA from Sarhad University of Information Technology SUIT Peshawar, session 2007.--(Sajid Hussain)

Polio suspect being investigated: CHITRAL, 25 Feb 09: Health authorities are investigating an Acute Flaccid paralysis (AFP) child from Arandu, under treatment at the DHQ hospital Chitral. "It is premature to determine this as a polio case because Chitral is a Polio free zone for the last 16 years� the responsible doctor said.--(GH Farooqi)

Unemployed paramedics continue hunger strike: CHITRAL, 24 Feb 09: Unemployed trained paramedics who are on hunger strike demanding job since 20 December, got a boost when LAPH  board member, president paramedics association, former president DBA, veteran journalist Moulana Afzal and a retired female paramedic joined them to give them moral support.--(GH Farooqi)

Chitrali scores high in PIA pilot test : CHITRAL, 22 Feb 09: Ali Ul Mulk s/o Shahzada Sikander Ul Mulk has cleared the PIA pilot induction written test  with a high score of 82% marks. After formally being inducted in the airline, he will be the only serving PIA pilot from Chitral.--(CN report)

Unesco shifts project to Punjab: CHITRAL, 21 Feb 09: Security situation in the NWFP has forced the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to abandon its project for the mapping of cultural assets in the province. The Norwegian-funded project was to be carried out in four districts of the NWFP � Chitral, Mansehra, Mardan and Peshawar.  --(CN monitoring)

Journalists condole Musa Khankhel's death: CHITRAL, 20 Feb 09 Journalists of Chitral Press club held a condolence meeting for journalist Musa Khankhel who was murdered in Swat. The meeting was presided over by Shah Murad Beg president of the press club. --(CN report)

Avalanche casualty bodies retrieved: CHITRAL, 20 Feb 09  Dead bodies of four persons buried under an avalanche in Yarkhoon Lasht five days back have finally been recovered on Friday by the locals with the help of Focus personnel.--(GH Farooqi)

Minister to visit Malaysia, Indonesia: CHITRAL, 20 Feb 09 :Chitrali Provincial Minister for population welfare, Saleem Khan is leaving for Malaysia and Indonesia on a one week official tour starting 21 Feb, says a handout. --(CN report)

Dead bodies still not retrieved:  CHITRAL, 19 Feb 09 : Dead bodies of four persons buried under an avalanche in Yarkhoon Lasht few days back have not been retrieved yet, contrary to the earlier report of their retrieval.. FOCUS personnel ferried to the area in an AKF helicopter are continuing efforts for the retrieval of the bodies. -(GH Farooqi)

Four killed in avalanche:  CHITRAL, 15 Feb 09: Four people of the same family are reported killed in Yarkhoon lasht Unawuj village after being hit by an avalanche. The deceased include Feroze Khan a Scouts sepoy, his wife,  four year child and a cousin Asas Khan. --(GH Farooqi)

District Bar elections held: CHITRAL, 14 Feb 09: Annual elections of District Bar Association were held here. Iftikhar Jan advocate was elected as president by bagging 34 votes against 31 votes of Khurshid Hussain Mughal advocate. The other office-bearers elected include Tanveer Usman advocate General Secretary Fida Ahmad Javaid advocate vice-president, and Masuad Azad advocate treasurer. --(BH Azad)

One commits suicide : CHITRAL, 10 Feb 09: One Sultanuddin age 40, of Reshun ended his own life with his shot gun after locking himself in the room. Cause of suicide has not been ascertained. --(GH Farooqi)

Khowar dictionary launched : PESHAWAR, 10 Feb 09: Naji Khan Naji, a retired teacher from Torkhow has compiled a 600-page dictionary consisting of about 16,000 words of the Khowar language, which is overwhelmingly spoken in Chitral district and parts of Gilgit.--(The News)

Afghan National Kohistani, kidnapped from Chitral, released in Dir :  PESHAWAR,, 10 Feb 09: Akhtar Kohistani an Afghan national BBC correspondent, kidnapped from Drosh Chitral some weeks back and shifted to Dok Darra Dir, was released Sunday by militants after negotiations with a local Jirga.--(The News)

Snowfall again in Chitral : CHITRAL, 10 Feb 09: Snow fall continues throughout the day Tuesday in a more substantial quantity than earlier spates this season. Many roads are reported blocked due to the fresh snowfall. Meanwhile electric supply through the transmission line over the Lowari pass has been suspended aggravating the already dismal state of electricity in Chitral town. --(CN report)

Hydel power station construction begins : CHITRAL, 08 Feb 09: Construction of a new Hydel power station of one Mw capacity has begun in Jughoor Gole of Chitral town, by the Al-Khidmat foundation, it was learnt here. A similar mini hydel station in Chitral Gole if constructed can relieve the town from the clutches of WAPDA.--(CN report)

Solas Trust praised : CHITRAL 08 Feb 09: Shahzada Ibrahim Pirzada chairperson Northern Citizen Community Chitral in a meeting with the board members said that Solas Educational Trust UK�Scotland plays a very fundamental role in the development of education particularly associated with not-for-profit and community oriented schools over the past seven years and has so far supported 11 schools in different parts of Chitral district.-- (BH Azad).

Girl commits suicide : CHITRAL, 07 Feb 09:  A 22 year old girl committed suicide in Chuinj village of Mastuj, apparently due to domestic problems. In another incident one Ahmad Faraz s/o Sher Faraz of Mastuj injured himself when his hunting gun went off on falling on a slippery road.  --(GH Farooqi)

Four die of dog bite: CHITRAL, 07 Feb 09 Four persons died after being bitten by stray dogs in Arandu village in the last week. No anti rabies vaccine is available in Chitral hospitals since long. --(GH Farooqi)

Chairman Zakat Committee elected: CHITRAL, 06 Feb 09: Chairmen of local Zakat committees of upper chitral elected Abdul Rehman as the overall Chairman Zakat committees of upper Chitral, at a meeting in Booni. --(GH Farooqi)

Chitrali officer promoted: CHITRAL, 06 Feb 09: Yousaf Shahzad has been promoted as Deputy Director Information in grade 18, and posted as PRO to Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs at Islamabad. --(CN report)

Snow drapes Chitral white: CHITRAL, 05 Feb 09: Chitral town was seen draped in white Thursday morning after snowfall at night. Roads are reportedly affected in the valleys and upper Chitral. This is the first snow fall of the winter season coming late though, is likely to benefit the natural environment and bring about a greener spring and summer time. -(CN report)

Arandu Jirga resolves vigil against infiltrations: CHITRAL, 03 Feb 09:  In a grand jirga at Arandu, elite of the border villages of Arandu and Damil expressed their resolve of keeping close watch on the borders to check the intrusion of anti-social elements from the Afghan area.  DCO Motasim Billah Shah and DPO Sher Akbar were present on the occasion who appreciated the efforts of the local elite in discharging their responsibilities. and said cooperation of the locals is essential for maintaining law and order. They assured the residents of Arandu that their presented problems would be solved  --(Zahiruddin)

Convention planned on tunnel opening problem: CHITRAL, 03 Feb 09  Zilla Assembly has planned a convention of all stake holders in Chitral on 7 Feb to decide a plan of action following refusal of the Federal govt to not allow the use of Lowari tunnel to hard pressed passenger for transit. --(Zahiruddin)

LPG, Milk prices fly sky high: CHITRAL, 03 Feb 09:  After disappearance of one and half month, LPG and milk are again available in Chitral bazaar. According to the dealers, they have arranged these through Afghanistan which many doubt).. LPG is being sold in Rs 130/kg compared to Rs 80/kg in Peshawar. Milk is being sold at Rs, 80/liter instead of Rs 60/liter. Because of the cold weather and electric load shedding, consumers rushed to the LPG shops for fillings of their cylinders. Local administration hasn't taken any action yet on these overcharging..--(BH Azad)

Mysterious plane hovers over Chitral: CHITRAL, 02 Feb 09: A mysterious plane circled at high altitude over Chitral city for hours in the afternoon on Monday for the second consecutive day. The people speculated that the plane was a United States drone from neighbouring Afghanistan. --(Zahiruddin)

Phone, Internet, join outage list: CHITRAL, 28 Jan 09: Telephone and internet media outage since last two days along with wireless-loop phone perpetual unserviciability has added to the annoyance of hard pressed Chitralis who already are devoid of electricity, road, fuel and other basic necessities in this age of abundance and plentifulness. --(CN report).

Tunnel not opening protests continue: CHITRAL, 28 Jan 09:  A protest meeting by Traders and transport unions Drosh said they would observe shutter down strike if Lowari Tunnel is not made available for transportation immediately. District nazim also attended the protest. Another protest by PMLQ and JUI leaders  demanded the same. --(GH Farooqi)

Immediate tunnel opening demanded again: CHITRAL, 27 Jan 09: A protest rally and meeting organised by the JI in Chitral town demanded immediate opening of the Lowari tunnel for passengers. It is expected that soon a decision on usage of the Tunnel for passengers would be taken as the Afghan route is also being denied to Chitralis while flights are canceling due to inclement weather. --(CN report)

Immediate tunnel opening demanded: CHITRAL, 25 Jan 09: A meeting of the unions of traders and drivers, which was held at Drosh on Saturday, decided that they would launch a protest movement, if the government failed to open the tunnel within three days, said a press release faxed to newspaper offices. The meeting was presided over by traders� union president Haji Muazzam Khan and was attended by a large number of traders and drivers.--(CN report)

Postal mail stranded since one month:  CHITRAL, 24 Jan 09: Chitralis are facing problems due to mail being stranded at Peshawar and inability of PIA to deliver the mail. Mail including role numbers of students, call up letters, Salaries and other essential mail is held up for the last one month and PIA authorities give it least priority said Gulzar Ahmad Post Master Chitral. Opening of Lowari Tunnel for traffic is the only way to do away with this problem.--(GH Farooqi)

Lowari Tunnel to be innaugurated on Jan 28: Federal Minister for Communication, Arbab Alamgir will inaugurate the Lowari Tunnel on January 28, the National Highway Authority (NHA) sources confirmed on Friday. --(The News)

Degree College gets new principal:  CHITRAL, 23 Jan 09:  Muhammad Riaz BS-20 associate professor of Botany/principal Government Degree College, Batagram has been transferred and posted as principal Government Degree College, Chitral against vacant post. --(The News)

DBA gets Rs 5 lacs grant:  CHITRAL, 21 Jan 09: Federal Law minister Farooq H. Naek announced a grant of Rs five lacs for Chitral District Bar Association. He announced the donation after meeting a delegation of the DBA led by its president Khurshid Hussain Advocate, in Islamabad. (GH Farooqi)

Four shops burgled in two days:  CHITRAL, 19 Jan 09: Three shops in Chitral bazar including Franchise office of Telenor, and shops of leading traders Taj Rasool and Sardar s/o Musafir, were  burgled on Friday night while it was raining heavily. On a tip off by a local the safe of shop of Taj Rasool was recovered from a field where it was buried. Another case of burglary occurred at Kuju village 20 km north of Chitral town, on Saturday night, where burglars broke into the shop of Saleem and a butcher and made away with 'kilawoo' and meat. Culprits have not been apprehended yet. --(CN report)

One missing on Afghan route:  CHITRAL, 17 Jan 09: One Raja Sarfaraz, proprietor of Raja Bakers Drosh bazaar is missing since last four days. He was last heard talking to his family from Peshawar telling them that he is setting off for Chitral via Torkhum Afghanistan route and has not been heard after that. --(Zahiruddin)

NCCB meeting in Chitral: CHITRAL, 13 Jan 09: Northern Citizen Community Board, meeting was held in Chitral presided over by Shahzada Ibrahim Pirzada it's chairman, and attended amongst others by Maj GD Langlands, Saeed Ahmad former MPA, Muzaffar VP teachers association and stakeholders from Yarkhun to Laspur. The objectives of the NCCB as stated were to work for the betterment of the people of the area by assisting the communities and working in collaboration with the NGOs. --(CN report)

Two girls commit suicide: CHITRAL, 11 Jan 09: According to police reports two girls Madina Bibi and Fareeda Bibi of Ayun and Orghoch respectively committed suicide by jumping into the river. Body of the later has since been retrieved. No reason could be ascertained for the unfortunate act. --(GH Farooqi)

Protesters demand more PIA flights: : CHITRAL, 11 Jan 09: Scores of Protesters in Chitral town blocked the road and demanded increase in PIA flights as all road out of Chitral are snow blocked and besides stranded passengers, postal bags and news papers are held up for many days at a stretch. The protestors dispersed after the ACO assured them of PIA agreeing upon increased flights. --(MAAS Kakakhel)

Teenager Missing, feared killed: CHITRAL, 07 Jan 09: A teenager Afghan refugee Rifatullah s/o Abdul Razaque, resident of Bakamak village of Chitral town and working at a Kabab shop has gone missing as per police report, but villagers claim he has been killed and his body thrown in the river. (GH Farooqi)

Police SHOs intershuffled: CHITRAL, 07 Jan 09: District police officer Sher Akbar has reshuffled the station house officers of Chitral and Drosh police stations, sources said. Inspector Inayatullah has been posted at Chitral instead of Inspector Mohammad Khalid who has been transferred to Drosh.--(Zahiruddin)

48 meters digging left in tunnel: CHITRAL, 07 Jan 09: Less than 50 m of tunneling is left at Lowari which is likely to be completed within the next week said NHA sources on Wednesday.--(CN report)

Chitral plunges into darkness: CHITRAL, 04 Jan 09: Two Electric transmission poles over the Lowari pass have collapsed under snow, plunging Chitral town into darkness as one out of two generators at the local power house is already out of order. Wapda sources when asked said it will take at least five days to restore electricity. --(GH Farooqi)

Dacoits drive 600 goats to Afghanistan: CHITRAL, 03 Jan 09: Ten Armed men entered the house of Mehboob, Jamdool and Muhammad Ali at Badugarh, Drosh Tehsil and took away 600 goats to Nooristan area of Afghanistan. Police have registered a case and are investigating. --(GH Farooqi)

Pedestrian Bridge collapses in Chitral town: CHITRAL, 03 Jan 09: A pedestrian bridge at Shiaqotek connecting five villages of Chitral town collapsed on Friday without causing any damage to life.--(GH Farooqi)

Lowari road clearing effort suspended:  CHITRAL, 03 Jan 09: Snow clearing of Lowari pass road has been suspended despite a long spate of good weather. Bad weather has been quoted as the reason by NHA authorities.--(GH Farooqi)

Afghanistan route opened for Chitrali travelers: CHITRAL, 30 Dec 09: Afghanistan route via Nawa and Khyber passes were both opened for Chitrali travelers wanting to travel between Chitral and rest of Pakistan. This was stated by MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin in a press hand out. --(CN report)

Afghan national kidnapped from Drosh: CHITRAL, 30 Dec 09: Haji Muzaffar Khan an Afghan national living in a rented accommodation in Dab village of Drosh was kidnapped Sunday night by 15 armed masked men and taken to an unknown place. Police ruled out the occurrence as action of extremists and termed it a case of personal feud. --(GH Farooqi)

Earthquake rattles Chitral:  CHITRAL, 29 Dec 08: An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale shook Chitral valley at 8:37 AM, Monday morning. The epicenter was reported about 80 km north of Chitral in the Hindukush mountains. No losses were reported till filing of the news. --(CN report)

Benazir's death anniversary observed: CHITRAL, 28 Dec 08: Quran Khwani was held by PPP workers in Chitral town, Booni, Drosh and Garam Chashma on Saturday, for Eisal sawab of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on the occasion of her first death anniversary. --(CN report)

Jobless Dispensers on hunger strike: CHITRAL, 26 Dec 08: Unemployed dispensers in Chitral went on hunger strike Friday at not being provided jobs despite having qualified dispensers course in 1993. They took exception to appointments of even ward orderlies by the provincial health ministry instead of the local EDO and warned of fasting unto death if things were not mended. --(MMAS Kakakhel)

Christians celebrate Christmas: CHITRAL, 25 Dec 08: Christian community of Chitral town residing in the commissariat area of Chitral Scouts premises, celebrated Christmas with religious zeal and fervour. Christian preacher demanded a church for the community in Chitral, He thanked participants of the function who included Human rights activists and tehsil nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan. --(G Sarwar)

Kalash winter festival concludes: CHITRAL, 23 Dec 08: Kalash winter Religious festival 'Chitter Mas' observed in the three Kalasha valleys of Bumburet, Birir and Rumbur concluded with the winter solstice on Monday. --(GH Farooqi)

Flight operates after six days  CHITRAL, 22 Dec 08: Flight from Islamabad and Peshawar to Chitral operated Monday after six days of cancellations due to bad weather. A number of returning Hajis took the Jalalabad Afghanistan land route from Peshawar to reach Chitral. --(CN report)

Chitrali graduates from Australian University: CHITRAL,18 Dec 08: Mir Zaman Shah of Garam Chashma, Chitral, has graduated with a Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Management) from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. --(CN report)

Machine readable passport facility inaugurated: CHITRAL,14 Dec 08: Machine readable passport facility was formally inaugurated in Chitral. MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin performed the inauguration ceremony while the DD passports said new passports would be made and delivered in Chitral within two weeks of application. --(Dawn)

Minister lauds AKRSP services: CHITRAL,14 Dec 08: Provincial Minister for population Welfare Salim Khan has eulogised the role played by the AKRSP in the developmental works  in Chitral. He was visiting the NGO head office in Chitral Saturday, where he was briefed by the RPM AKRSP Engr Sardar Ayub. --(GH Farooqi)

Lowari pass re-opens: CHITRAL,13 Dec 08: Lowari pass opened for light traffic Saturday evening after five days of closure due to snow. Meanwhile the under- construction tunnel is due to break through in a few days from now which will be followed by a cleanup maintenance of debris etc before it can be put to any temporary use. --(CN report)

Life returns to routine after Eid break: CHITRAL 12 Dec 08: After a five day long Eid break (three official holidays), life is limping back to routine in Chitral town. Shops have started opening in the markets and offices populated again. --(CN report)

Tajjar Union elections held: CHITRAL 29 Nov 08: Sitting president of Tajjar Union, Habib Hussain Mughal and his panel were  reelected in the Tajjar Union elections held on Saturday. The panel got 1052 votes against 1031 votes of Haji Jalil panel, the later being an ex president of the union. However Haji Jalil panel refused to accept the results accusing rigging in the election and have threatened to demonstrate and approach the court in this regard. --(BH Azad)

Chitrali officer promoted  CHITRAL 28 Nov 08: Qazi Fazal Elahi of Chital working in BPS-20 as a Senior Advisor of the Federal Shariat Court Islamabad has been promoted to  BPS-21. --(Ghulam Shifa)

DCO suspends School staff: CHITRAL 26 Nov 08: District Coordination Officer took a strong notice of irregularities in schools. He after a surprise visit, suspended Head mistress of Girls High school  Bakarabad and issued show cause notices to heads of two other schools for closing the school before official closing time. He also instructed the EDO education to keep a strict vigil on the functioning of educational institutions--(Mashriq)

Traders union elections on 29 Nov: CHITRAL 25 Nov 08: Voting for elections to traders union of Chitral town bazaars would be held on 29 Nov. The competition would be  between two panels ie Habib Hussain Mughal panel and Haji Abdul Jalil panel. --(CN report)

Self medication popular in Chitral: CHITRAL 23 Nov 08: Amongst the many changes in life style of Chitralis which is noticeable is the growing habit of self medication. More and more people (both male and female) are seen carrying tablets on them mostly for headache, high blood pressure, digestive disorder etc, the most common being tablets for headache which they liberally use as if it were a toffee. (CN report)

Rats replace Mice: CHITRAL 21 Nov 08: One effect of last winter's record snowfall and extreme cold temperatures in Chitral was the almost extinction of the indoor mouse, but this year people are reporting  that they are seeing hefty rats double the size of the familiar mouse, instead. --(CN report)

Seven shops gutted: CHITRAL 20 Nov 08: Seven shops were gutted due to electric short circuit fire at Faizabad, Chitral Town. The fire which broke out in a shop at 2100 hrs Wednesday night was put out after the fire brigade along with Scouts soldiers and civilians joined to fight it. --(CN report)

Paragliding club to be established in Chitral: CHITRAL 20 Nov 08: A paragliding club would be set up in Chitral besides construction of football & cricket grounds and squash courts. This was stated by the DCO at a meeting of the sports committee presided over by him and attended amongst others by Tehsil Nazims of Chitral and Mastuj sub divisions. --(GH Farooqi)

Simplicity in Marriage ceremonies urged: CHITRAL 18 Nov 08: Islamic teachings must be followed in marriages so that unwanted traditions could be weeded out from the society which only bring miseries for the poor, said UC Broze Nazim Abdul Haq while addressing Nikah registrars. He also told them to be careful of unscrupulous people from down districts duping poor girls in the name of marriage. --(Zahiruddin)

Blocked again: CHITRAL 18 Nov 08: The Lowari Hide n Seek continues as is witnessed in the beginning of every winters. Now open...Now blocked....Now fully blocked,  is the name of the game Chitralis witness in anguish. The Lowari pass last reported has been partially blocked due to snowfall at night. --(CN report)

Lowari reopens partially: CHITRAL 16 Nov 08: Lowari pass reopened for light traffic Sunday evening, according to Tehsil Nazim Chitral. --(GH Farooqi)

More rain and snow, Lowari cut off again: CHITRAL 15 Nov 08: Rain again fell in Chitral Friday evening through out the night, although no snow fell in the town but the hills around were all white Saturday morning. Lowari pass which had opened briefly after the previous snowfall has closed again. Chitralis have demanded immediate completion of the Lowari Tunnel and starting of the promised bus service through it. --(CN report)

Fuel storage may fall short, meeting told: CHITRAL 11 Nov 08: A meeting chaired by the district Naib Nazim Sultan Shah took stock of the possible fuel crises ahead. Incharge PSO told the meeting that due to financial crisis the management had stopped credit and prize escalation was another reason to store the required quantity of fuel in the district. He informed the participants that 15 lac liter diesel, 2 lac petrol and 1 lac kerosene oil were available presently but the required demand was above 50 lac liters. Meeting recommended immediate action to forestall any such crisis. Tehsil Nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan had arranged the meeting. --(CN report)

Chitralis eager to use the Lowari Tunnel: CHITRAL 08 Nov 08: As the deadline for completion of the Lowari tunnel is approaching, Chitralis are eagerly talking about seeing the horizon through the tunnel, instead of being strand blocked in winters. 95% digging is complete and the date for launching bus service through the tunnel is 15 Dec announced by the NHA. Hoarders are already worried that this year they would not be able to fleece people in the name of Lowari pass blockage. --(CN report)

Women Development meeting: CHITRAL 06 Nov 08: A meeting of stakeholders of women development in TMA Mastuj area was held in BLSO office Booni. The objective of this networking is to develop coordination among different Organizations aimed at women development and empowerment, in Tehsil Mastuj. --(A Rashid)

Chitral: Afghan govt's media adviser abducted: 03 Nov 08: The Media Adviser of Afghanistan government, Akhtar Kohistani, was abducted here on Monday. According to sources, Akhtar Kohistani was kidnapped from the outskirts of Chitral. However, Afghan government neither denied nor confirmed the reports about his abduction. --(The News)

Women training workshop held: CHITRAL, 03 Nov 08: A marble mosaic training workshop for women empowerment through skill development program organised by PASDEC (Pakistan Stone Development Company) in collaboration with Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA)  concluded here. 27 female participants were awarded certificates by the tehsil nazim Chitral. --(GH Farooqi)
 

Boy run over by vehicle: CHITRAL, 02 Nov 08: A twelve year old boy Hazrat Ali s/o Ghulam died after being run over by a Mazda carry vehicle at Broze village 20 km south of Chitral town. (G Sarwar)

Drosh protest continues: CHITRAL, 01 Nov 08: Protesters continued their sit in strike for the second week and a large gathering at Drosh bazar Friday warned the Govt of dire consequences if work on the Shishi power house was not sped up and completed by 01 December. --(CN report)

Clock correction welcomed: CHITRAL, 01 Nov 08:  Chitralis heaved a sigh of relief after setting of the clock back to where it belongs. Advancement of the clock failed to save daylight but succeeded in creating confusion amongst the people who have demanded of the Govt not to do it again.--(CN report)

Chitral may taste flour crisis:  CHITRAL, 31 Oct 08: Chitral district may face flour crisis this winter if additional 6000 tons wheat was not stored up there. A national daily 'The News' quoting food department sources says the additional 40% requirement is due to drought like conditions in the area during the crop season which restricted the local production of wheat. The report says only 40% grain requirement is met by local produce while 60% has to be provided from down country.--(CN report)

Mysterious plane hovers over Chitral:  CHITRAL, 26 Oct 08: A mysterious plane appearing from the south west, hovered over Chitral for the second consecutive day on Sunday morning  between 6am to 9am and then after a brief disappearance into the western horizon, again till 10:45am. Eye witnesses say the plane was a small one with two propellers, barely visible due to high altitude. Civil aviation authorities showed ignorance about flight plan of any such plane. Unexplainable hovering of a plane over Chitral naturally is causing  anxiety amongst the people, given the messy and volatile situation around. --(CN report)

Earth quake felt: CHITRAL, 25 Oct 08: The earth quaked in Chitral at 0730 hrs Sunday morning. The tremor was of a low-moderate intensity and lasted for several seconds. --(CN report)

Man with explosives arrested:   CHITRAL, 25 Oct 08: Chitral Police have arrested a man Badshah Munir Khan s/o Amanullah r/o Bajaur with five kg explosives, four meter electric wire and ten liters of petrol. The man is being investigated. --(Daily Mashriq)

Drosh protest continues:  CHITRAL, 25 Oct 08: Protest against electricity outage and delay in construction of the Shishi power house continues in Drosh. On Friday speakers at a protest meeting in Drosh bazar threatened to cut off electric supply line to chitral town and block the chitral Peshawar road if work was not resumed on the powerhouse and electricity restored within seven days. --(CN report)

Essay winner awarded prize:  CHITRAL, 24 Oct 08: Essay competition winner Saadia Sabir FSc Pre-eng student of Pamir Public School Booni  was awarded Cash prize of Rs 20000/- by Islamuddin Principal, Pamir Degree College Garam Chashma at an elegant ceremony held at the Garam Chashma college. He thanked Mrs Nighat Rooziman for sponsoring the competition. He also thanked Chitral's websites for their cooperation. He said the idea was to bring out creative thinking in students to the fore. --(CN report)

One shot dead:  CHITRAL, 24 Oct 08: Meteorological Observer Muhammad Abid was shot dead allegedly by one Hazrat Nabi at the Met office in Balach, Chitral. The accused has been arrested and investigations are in progress. Personal reasons are believed to be the cause of the murder. --(GH Farooqi)

Boy ends up in Indian jail:  CHITRAL, 21 Oct 08:An 18 year old boy belonging to Chukiatan Dir and whose father is working as a petrol pump attendant in Chitral has ended up in an Indian Jail. The boy reported to be a fan of Shah Rukh Khan and crazy about working in Bollywood (Indian) movies was arrested as illegal entrant into India. --(CN report)

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