Water shortage MANSEHRA, Nov 9: The local people have been witnessing prolonged and unscheduled loadshedding for last many days causing water shortage in several areas of the city and its suburbs.

Consumers complained that frequent power outages had badly affected their routine life.

`We are without water for over a week and municipal committee officials have refused to resolve the issue citing excessive loadshedding,` Mohammad Ajmal along with other local people, told reporters here on Saturday.

Ajmal said that prolonged outages had not only created water shortage but also badly hit their businesses.

He said that both federal and provincial governments had failed to address the issues being faced by the people.

Mr Ajmal said the government should minimise loadshedding duration and bind the officials to carry it out according to the schedule.-Correspondent Police `highhandedness` PESHAWAR, Nov 9: A newly-wed woman has accused Charsadda police of keeping her husband in habeas corpus since October 24 and not allowing relatives to meet him.

Burga clad Farzana told reporters at Peshawar Press Club here on Saturday that her spouse, Dost Mohammad (35) had done nothing wrong but police picked him on Oct 24 from his residence at Koroona, Charsadda.

`He is working at a godown in Islamabad at Rs8,000 monthly salary. We married just three months ago and his arrest is stressing me out,` said Farzana.

The police party, she said was led by SHO Ijaz Khan and ASI Fazlullah Khan, who kept her husband for six days in basement of Charsadda police station, torturing him. `Later he was shif ted to unknown place,` she said.

She alleged the SHO demanded Rs60,000 bribe for his release and informed that Dost Mohammad had been charged in a criminal case at Tangi police station.-Bureau Report Facilities for traders KHAR, Nov 9: Bajaur Agency assistant political agent Asad Sarwar has said the local administration has stepped up efforts to provide basic facilities to traders to boost economic activities in the agency Talking to representatives of the local traders` organisation during his visit to Inayat Killi trade centre on Saturday, he said the administration was taking keen interest in promoting economic activities in the region.

He said the administration was aware of the difficulties being faced by the business community as a result of militancy.

Mr Sarwr said flush toilets and waiting rooms would be constructed besides installation of solar streetlights at Inayat Killi trade centre.

He said the administration had launched several rehabilitation schemes in militancy hit areas to help boost business activities.

He asked the traders to keep the trade center clean and avoid encroachments. `Action will be taken against encroachers,` he said.

The traders asked him to provide financial assistance to militancy affected traders.-Correspondent Talks with militants PESHAWAR, Nov 9: Women wing of Jamaat-i-Islami has asked the government to start meaningful negotiations with militants to end lawlessness in the country.

The demanded was made at the end of a three-day training workshop for the party`s woman activists. Central president of the women wing Aysha Munawar was the chief guest, according to a press release issued here on Saturday.

The participants said Pakistan had suffered socially and economically since the country joined US-led war on terror. Over 40,000 civilians had been killed in violence and acts of terrorism during the last decade, they added.

They asked the government to review its internal and external policies and quit the war on terror. They said the US and India were involved in the killing of innocent civilians in Pakistan.

They also asked the federal government to take concrete measures to stop militancy, kidnapping for ransom and sectarian violence and start negotiations with warring groups immediately.-Bureau Report Lowari pass opened CHITRAL, Nov 9: The Lowari pass was on Saturday opened for light traffic much to the relief of hundreds of stranded passengers on Upper Dir-Chitral road for the last four days. The Lawari top road was closed to traffic due to heavy snowfall on Tuesday stranding thousands of commuters on both sides of the top.

The snowfall also disconnected Chitral district with the national grid, disrupting telecommunication system.

The stranded passengers also included a large number of women and children and those returning home after performing Haj.

The people of Chitral have demanded of the government to reach a standby agreement with the Korean construction company so the unfinished Lowari tunnel could be opened during the time the Lowari top remained closed for vehicular traffic.They said the government should open the tunnel at least two to three hours a day, otherwise, they feared that continuous disruption in road link would lead to severe shortage of commodities in Chitral.-Correspondent