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Full court reference

ISLAMABAD: A full court reference will be held on February 2, to bade farewell to Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Judge of Supreme Court on his retirement. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui will chair the reference. In this regard, retired and serving judges and representatives of SC Bar and High Court Bar associations have been invited to attend the reference. After retirement of Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, the strength of Supreme Court judges would reduce to 12 against the sanctioned strength of 17 judges.ÑAPP

Three held for peddling heroin

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: Malikwal police have arrested three persons on charges of possession and sale of heroin. One Abdul Hafeez was held when 250 gm heroin was recovered from him, while Mohammad Hafeez was picked up from Mohalla Rajgan and Nadeem Masih from the railway crossing, with 200 gm and 50 packets heroin, respectively. Cases have been registered against the accused.ÑAPP

160,000 pensioners draw support from EOBI

KARACHI: More than 160,000 retired employees are drawing their pension from Employees Old Age Benefit (EOBI) every month, it was officially stated here on Monday. Out of the total pensioners, 118,000 are old-age pensioners while the rest are widows of the workers associated with different industrial concerns. The institution has so far distributed Rs 5.53 billion among the pensioners since its inception. During the month of December 1999, EOBI distributed Rs 60 million among pensioners. The institution has registered more than 1.4 million employees of 42, 632 industrial, commercial and other establishments. These workers will get their pension at the time of retirement or due to invalidity.ÑAPP

Villager shot dead

KASUR: A man was shot dead on Sunday over a minor issue by three rivals in a village in the vicinity of Chunian. Reportedly, Arshad and Riasat had quarrelled with each other on a trivial matter some days ago, but were pacified by neighbours. On Sunday however, when Riasat was coming home from the fields he was shot dead by the rival party, Arshad, Shaukat and Saleem. The culprits fled away from the scene. Police are investigating.ÑAPP