L OWER DIR: The Lower Dir chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami on the call of its central chief Sirajul Haq welcomed the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) verdict against Riba (interest) and observed thanksgiving day on Friday.

The party organised a rally in Balambat wherein its workers chanted slogans in favour of the FSC judgment and against the interest-based economy.

Speaking on the occasion, JI district general secretary Hafiz Yaqubur Rehman, advocate Sher Hayat and Maulana Hakimullah Faroogi welcomed the decision and demanded the State Bank of Pakistan and other monetary institutions to ensure its implementation in a short span of time.

The JI leaders said the government should take solid steps to implement the decision in less than five years.

They said that Riba (interest) had ruined the very foundation of the country`s economy.

PRICE CHECK: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secretary agri-culture Mohammad Israr on Friday directed the Lower Dir administration to ensure availability of essential items at the Timergara Sasta Bazaar during Ramazan.

He visited the local Sasta bazaar and checkedthe prices and quality of food items. Deputy commissioner Aun Haidar Gondal, district director agriculture Karim Khan and other of ficials were also present on the occasion.

The secretary expressed his satisfaction on the prices and stock at the bazaar.

MASJID-I-NABWI INCIDENT: Political and religious circles and people belonging to different sections of society in Lower Dir on Friday condemned the incident wherein a mob chanted political and derogatory slogans at Masjid-i-Nabwi against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and members of his delegation.

The activists of JUI-F, JI, ANP and PPP said in their separate statements that the `Mosque of the Prophet` had sanctity for the entire Muslim Ummah, which should be observed at all times.

`Muslims have been ordered to lower their voices inside the mosque,` remarked Maulana Ubaidullah. Correspondent