Two villagers were shot dead and another person sustained severe bullet wounds on late Friday over an old ongoing enmity between two groups Badani Jatoi and Kamalani Jatoi in Shikarpur. Reportedly, the clash took place on Kot-Shaho Bridge at the riverine area of Khanpur subdivision in the precinct of the Napar-Kot police station. Station House Officer (SHO) Zahid Hussain Abro told the media that three villagers were on their way from Khamiso Jatoi village to Chaman Sukhpur village when unidentified assailants ambushed and opened fire on them. Resultantly, two persons identified as 30-year-old Ghulam Fareed aka Commando Badani Jatoi and 20-year-old Liaquat Ali Dodani Jatoi died on the spot, whereas Bango Badani Jatoi sustained critical injuries. Meanwhile, attackers managed to flee from the spot. Following the information, police rushed to the spot and transported deceased’s bodies and injured person to the Khanpur Hospital for medical attention. Dead bodies were handed over to their heirs after autopsies and injured person was referred to the DHQ Hospital in Shikarpur for further treatment. An apple of discord was said to be an ongoing hostility between Kamalani Jatoi and Badani Jatoi tribesmen which started about a year ago when members of Badani Jatoi tribes killed Gul Hassan Kamalani Jatoi and a woman, belonging to Badani tribe, on suspicion of having illicit relationship, according to the SHO. Murder of both villagers was said to be their revenge. Scores of people in Pakistan, an overwhelming majority of whom are women, are still being murdered by relatives for bringing ‘shame’ on their family, more than a year since new laws came into force aimed at stemming the menace of ‘honour killings’. In October 2016, a joint sitting of both houses of parliament passed two key pro-women bills that had been pending assent for a long time. Meanwhile, it is not an easy task for the newly appointed Shikarpur’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sajid Ameer Saddozi to control such deadly disputes between many tribes on his own. Sukkur IBA University organises exhibition on STEM The Sukkur IBA University on Saturday organised an exhibition on “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)” in which students showcased their projects and skills. Reportedly, various departments of the university, its community colleges and public schools participated in the exhibition. Sukkur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ghulam Murtaza Shaikh and university’s registrar Engr Zahid Hussain Khand inaugurated the exhibition and took a round at various stalls to examine students’ projects. The institutions which participated in the exhibition include various departments of the Sukkur IBA University including Mathematics, Education, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics and Social Sciences, IBA Community Colleges of Khairpur, Ghotki, Ubauro, Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Jacobabad, and IBA Public School Sukkur and Larkana, and IBA Islamia Public Higher Secondary School in Ghotki and many others. Students presented innovative approach in their projects, which were highly appreciated by the chief guest. The DC lauded their efforts and said that the Sukkur IBA University’s STEM initiative would spark ambition of science and technology in students. The registrar said that the STEM was first initiated by the United States of America (USA), and currently it is being followed by rest of the world. He said that western countries’ development and progress has been rooted in the STEM, and therefore the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has initiated such a project in Pakistan. He termed lack of scientific tools, equipment and laboratories as a major setback for improving quality of education in the field of science and technology. He revealed that the university has developed a mobile science laboratory with an objective to transport it to various schools and colleges for providing experiment facilities to students. “Such exhibitions can attract students who have capacity of brainstorming for shaping their ideas,” he said. He expressed optimism that with a development in science and technology, Pakistan could participate in certain sectors of the modern age innovation. Published in Daily Times, October 21st 2018.