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Pak meet India in Twenty20 warm up today

OVAL: Pakistan will take on India in Twenty20 warm up match today. This would be the first encounter between the two teams after Mumbai attacks.

The money collected from today’s match will be given to the affectees of attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

Pakistan and India both faced defeat in their respective warm up openers. South Africa beat Pakistan while New Zealand defeated India. Both teams met in Twenty20 World Cup final two years back.

Pakistan team manager Yawer Saeed said green shirts would face India with full strength without giving rest to any key player.

Geo Super will telecast the action live from Oval for cricket fans.

Yousuf, Razzaq to be considered: Qadir

KARACHI ( 2009-06-01 22:13:07 ) :Chief selector Abdul Qadir said Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq would both be considered for Pakistan's Test tour of Sri Lanka while decision on the rest of the Indian Cricket League players would be taken as per the board's policy. "Since the board has cleared Yousuf and Razzaq for selection they are certainly going to be considered for the Sri Lanka tour as they are experienced performers and there is no question about their abilities," Qadir said. The PCB last week welcomed the duo back into the national team after they resigned from the ICL and submitted the NOCs to the board. Both players were cleared without any punishment. Regarding the rest of the ICL players, Qadir said, "We can only follow the board's policy decision but it would be great if the other ICL players are also available for selection. It would allow us to select the best team for the country. Certainly the performances of some of the ICL players have been very impressive in the recent RBS T20 tournament." The former leg-spinner said the Test tour of Sri Lanka, beginning June 27, was important for Pakistan. "The last time we played a full Test series was in India in November-December, 2007. Since then we have not had proper exposure in a full bilateral series," Qadir noted. Pakistan play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 match on their tour. "The same rule applies for Mohammad Asif when he completes his ban and is allowed by the board to play again. Shoaib and Asif will have to play domestic cricket and prove their fitness is 100 per cent," Qadir said.

Imran Nazir ends ties with ICL, meets PCB chief

KARACHI ( 2009-06-01 21:58:04 ) :Pakistani players continue their exodus from the Indian Cricket League and the latest to have ended his ties with the rebel venture is opener Imran Nazir, who met PCB chairman Ejaz Butt to inform him of his decision on Monday.Nazir also met Pakistan Cricket Board's Director of Human Resources Wasim Bari."I have resigned from the ICL and informed them I can't play for them any longer. I am more keen on resuming my Pakistan career," Nazir said.The flamboyant opener had hit the headlines last week when he invited a Rs 10,000 fine and a three-match ban for showing dissent at an umpiring decision in the final of the National Twenty20 championship.The International Cricket Council and the PCB set a May 31 deadline for the ICL players to end their ties with the league for becoming eligible for national selection again.Nazir said he had not been told if he would have to face any fines or a cooling period before he can play for Pakistan again."I don't know anything about this but they have accepted my resignation and hopefully I will be in contention for the tour of Sri Lanka next month," he said.

SC adjourns hearing of Hafiz Saeed case till tomorrow

LAHORE: The three-member full bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) headed by Justice Aijaz Ahmed Chaudhry adjourned till tomorrow the hearing of the case against the house arrests of chief of the banned outfit Jamat-ut-Da’wa, Hafiz Saeed and Col. (Retd.) Nazir.

The counsel of Hafiz Saeed presenting the arguments during the hearing said even al-Qaeda has not been declared a terrorist organization under Pakistani law and questioned the justification of declaring a body a terrorist organization in the wake of UN resolution.

“Pakistan is an autonomous state, it should implement its own laws rather than following the resolutions passed by the UN,” he said.

Later, the SC adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

PEPCO announces immediate lifting of load shedding

ISLAMABAD: Some respite is in the sight for power consumers as Managing Director Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO); Tahir Basharat Cheema has announced immediate halt in load shedding to be continued for next two days.

Talking to Geo News, he said, on Sunday optimum power up to 13,000 mw has been generated due to capacity generation of PEPCO and the initiation of power generation from some new power plants.

Luckily weather has also improved, registering decrease in power consumption.

So it has been decided to terminate load shedding immediately. Further decision would be made on Tuesday. Two more new plants would start power generation in June.

26 suspects arrested in Bannu search operation

BANNU: Twenty-six suspected persons were arrested during search operation conducted by Bannu police in different areas.

District Police Officer Bannu Iqbal Khan Marwat told Geo News that search operation carried out in Bannu and adjoining areas during which 26 suspected persons were arrested and 7 Kalashnikovs, 12 pistols and dozens of cartridges were recovered from their possession. The suspects are under investigations, he added.

Jirga make efforts for swap of bodies in S. Waziristan

WANA: Mehsud tribal jirga has stepped up efforts for the swapping of bodies, following deaths of 25 Taliban and martyrdom of 6 security personnel during yesterday’s skirmishes in South Waziristan.

Clashes at Tayarza and Spinkai Raghzai yesterday had culminated into the death of 25 militants including commander Miraj Burki, who is said to be the Kanigarm commander of Baitullah Mehsud Group.

ISPR said that four security personnel have gone missing also. Following the incident, Mehsud tribal jirga has stepped up its efforts for the swapping of corpses and it is likely that after talks with the parties involved, the bodies could be swapped today.

On the other hand, Mehsud tribesmen of South Waziristan’s areas Makeen, Kotkai, Spinkai, Raghzai, Ladha, Sararogha and other adjoining areas are seen shifting to North Waziristan, Bannu, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan due to tense prevalent situation.

Kohat bus stand blast kills 4

KOHAT: Four people were killed and 13 injured in a bomb blast in Teera Bazar area of Kohat.

According to sources, four people were killed when a bomb exploded at a bus stand.
Large number of people was gathered at bus station at the time of blast. The injured and bodies were shifted to hospitals where emergency has been imposed. Officials of bomb disposal squad and security agencies have reached the scene.

Michael Jackson's concerts in doldrums

LONDON: Michael Jackson faces having to scrap MORE of his UK concerts so he can battle skin cancer, it emerged last night.

The superstar, 50 — diagnosed last month — may have to undergo gruelling radiotherapy to beat the disease.

Pals fear it means Jacko, who has already had to postpone the first four UK dates of his 50-show tour, could be left so exhausted that other July gigs will be hit.

Specialists in California’s Beverly Hills have removed potentially lethal growths from his nose and arm.

KSE-100 Index slips 66 points

KARACHI: The benchmark KSE-100 Index of Karachi Stock Exchange Monday lost 66 points to peg at 7,210.The stock market started its journey in the green territory but later the investors were seen adopting a cautious approach in reaction to reports regarding imposition of new taxes on the capital market. Selling was particularly witnessed in energy and banking stocks.Trade volume was recorded at 110 million shares.Jehangir Siddiqui Co. drew maximum ...

Hypocrites: BCCI or ICC?

Hypocrites: BCCI or ICC? Call it BCCI’s hypocrisy or ICC’s duplicity; it doesn’t matter, for many believe BCCI controls the ICC, no matter what reasons are given to them to prove the stated ‘fact’ wrong. I am talking about the absence of Pakistani players and presence of a Pakistani commentator in the second edition of the extravagantly, lucratively entertaining Indian Premier League, the DLF IPL 2009. I do not have only this one instance of proving BCCI’s double standards. England’s tour to India at the end of 2008 faced some disruptions due to the unexpected and sad incident on 26th November, where over a hundred and fifty innocent people were slaughtered in Mumbai, India’s economic capital, in the name of ‘Jihad’. England had returned home immediately after the fifth ODI due to security reasons. India had severed all ties with Pakistan on grounds that Pakistani nationals were involved in the massacre. “All ties” included cricket. Pakistani artists, actors and singers, were banned from performing in India due to the strained relationship. England returned after repeated and guaranteed security assurance for the Test series by the BCCI, after the remaining two ODIs were scrapped. What we saw next was Umpire Asad Rauf in the second Test match in Mohali. Why? If there are no Pakistani players in tournaments that includes Indian players, why have Pakistani umpires or for that matter even Pakistani commentators. Don’t get me wrong. My point here is not keeping out the Pakistani nationals out of the game entirely. The only thing I want to state here is that either all (players, umpires and commentators) should be allowed or the BCCI should be strong enough to take a call on keeping Pakistan out of all its activities. More so, the ICC should live up to its name and try to maintain the spirit of the gentleman’s game. If the ICC has the power to ‘not recognise’ the ICL if BCCI thinks it is their stiff competition, I think it has enough power to ‘order’ the BCCI to act responsibly and uplift the stature of the game rather than do something silly like keeping the Pakistan players out and officials in after cutting all ties with the Islamic nation. I am sure, or at least I hope that many would agree with me on my point of view that the absence of the players from the neighbourhood has taken some spice away, if not a lot. All of us remember how the entire crowd at the Eden Gardens was on its feet with the return of Shoaib Akhtar for Kolkata Knight Riders and how Sohail Tanvir (Highest Wicket-Taker in IPL 08), ripped apart Rajasthan Royals’ opposition to give his team the ultimate gift, the IPL Trophy. Who can forget the moments when Shoaib Malik celebrated a fall of the opponent’s wicket with Virender Sehwag or Shahid Afridi went boom boom with Rohit Sharma at the other end of the crease. It was soothing to see the Indo-Pak relations get better, even if was just on the cricket field. Cricket was supposedly the only golden thread between the two nations and the only option left to improve relations between the bitter neighbours. An India-Pakistan match used to be referred to as the ‘Mother-of-all-battles’. But it has been slit. What benefit did the IPL derive from keeping the Pakistan players out except pushing itself into legal trouble? For once, it can be understood that the IPL authorities ‘cared’ for the security of the Pak players in India with all the anti-Pakistan sentiments growing in the country, after 26/11. But when the entire tournament was shifted across the globe all the way to South Africa, the BCCI could have done more than just straining relations with their cricketing rivals (by not including the Pakistan players) even further and leaving no knots on their side to hold and pull back to build goodwill with the neighbours again.

15th Lok sabha: First day, first show

High hopes: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh waves to the media as he arrives at Parliament on the first day of the first session of the 15th Lok Sabha in New DelhI.(PTI)

Rly station ransacked, 3 train set on fire in Bihar

Incensed over Railway's decision to withdraw stoppage of several trains at Khusrupur station in Bihar, angry locals on Monday ransacked the station and attacked three trains including the Intercity Express and uprooted rail lines under Danapur division, about 32 km from Patna. The trains which were attacked were Vikramshila Express, Patna-Rajgir Express and Danapur-Jainagar Express.
As the protests turned violent, the Railway Board withdrew the order cancelling train halts. In a statement, the Board said that trains will continue to stop at designated stations.
Most of the train stops were introduced by former Railway Minister Lalu Yadav. Earlier, hundreds of people from nearby villages stormed the Khusrupur railway station Monday morning, ransacked the station and burnt it down, according to Deputy Superintendent of Government Railway Police (Patna East) Rajendra Singh.
They were protesting the East Central Railway's announcement in newspapers pertaining to withdrawal of stoppage of several express trains, including Rajgir-New Delhi Shramajivi Express and Kosi Express, at Khusrupur.
Locals also attacked the 3226 down Danapur-Jainagar Intercity Express at Baikatpur village near the station, and torched its three bogies-- two general coaches and an air conditioned chair car, Singh said.
They also uprooted the railway lines in a stretch of several meters under Danapur division of East Central railway.
Fire tenders fought for hours to douse the flames, Singh said.
The mob also destroyed several electronic and other railway operation equipment and signal system, besides the ticket booking counter, Singh said.
Reinforcements were sent to Khusrupur station to control the situation, he said.
Senior railway and police officials have reached the spot and patrolling was intensified as tension ran high in the area, Singh added.

Oil price hits seven-month peak above 68 dollars

LONDON ( 2009-06-01 17:58:49 ) :Crude oil prices soared on Monday, rising above 68 dollars a barrel for the first time for seven months, boosted by higher Chinese output, a weak US currency and rising equity markets, traders said.New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for July delivery, struck 68.29 dollars -- a level last reached on October 30.Brent North Sea crude for delivery in July bounced as high as 67.69 dollars a barrel."Crude oil is higher... especially after news that the manufacturing sector in China expanded for a third month," said BetOnMarkets analyst Dave Evans."China, the world's second-biggest energy consumer, has been showing signs of a recovery over the last two months. There is a very strong chance of oil prices testing the 70-dollar level."In later trading on Monday, New York crude changed hands at 68 dollars a barrel, up 1.69 dollars from Friday's close. Brent oil was 1.75 dollars higher at 67.27.China's manufacturing activity expanded in May for the third month running, official data showed on Monday, the latest tentative sign of economic recovery.The official Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, for the manufacturing sector pulled back slightly to 53.1 in May, down from 53.5 in April, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said in a statement on its website.A reading above 50 means the sector is expanding, while a reading below 50 indicates an overall decline.The euro jumped above 1.42 dollars for the first time this year, as rebounding global stock markets persuaded investors to switch away from the safe-haven US currency, dealers said."A continuing weaker US dollar seems to drive significant buying power," added ODL Securities anlayst Marius Paun. A weak US currency makes dollar-priced oil cheaper for holders of stronger currencies and, in turn, tends to stimulate demand and push prices higher.In late morning trading heranies were also boosted by higher commodity prices.Despite recent gains, oil prices remain far below the record peaks of above 147 dollars a barrel forged in July 2008. A global economic downturn has since slashed the world's appetite for energy.

PSO seeks gasoline up to 60,000T June/July

SINGAPORE ( 2009-06-01 13:06:44 ) :Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is seeking up to 60,000 tonnes of gasoline for June-July delivery, a tender document showed on Monday, the latest of tenders over recent months which traders said were to plug a production gap.PSO, which is not a regular gasoline importer, is looking to buy 30,000 tonnes of 87-octane grade gasoline for arrival during June-July on a cost-and-freight (C&F) basis to Karachi, plus another optional 30,000 tonnes.Trade sources had said PSO was importing gasoline due to lower refinery runs in the country but reasons for the lower operating rates were not clear.The tender closes on Friday with validity until June 9. PSO last sought via tender two weeks ago 60,000 tonnes of June-July gasoline but ended up buying only 30,000 tonnes.

Air France jet with 231 on board missing over Atlantic

PARIS ( 2009-06-01 17:15:15 ) :An Air France passenger jet with 231 people on board is missing after dropping off radar over the Atlantic on Monday after taking off from Brazil, the company and Paris airport officials said."We are very worried," an aviation official said. "The plane disappeared from the screens several hours ago. It could be a transponder problem, but this kind of fault is very rare and the plane did not land when expected."Air France confirmed that "it had no news" of flight number AF 447, which it said had 216 passengers and 15 crew members on board.Air traffic control lost contact with the Airbus A330 at 0600 GMT as it crossed the ocean after taking off from Rio de Janeiro bound for Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, where it had been due to land at 0910 GMT.Airport authorities have set up a crisis cell at Charles de Gaulle, and junior transport minister Dominique de Bussereau was due at the scene

18 more militants killed, 13 captured in operation Rah-e-Rast

MONITORING DESK
RAWALPINDI ( 2009-06-01 18:14:53 ) :The forces killed 18 militants and captured 13 others in last 24 hours during the counterinsurgency operation, Aaj News reported.Two soldiers were also martyred and four soldiers and four civilians were wounded in clashes, DG ISPR Ather Abbas on Monday said in a statement. Mingora, the chief town of Swat, returning to normalcy, while the operation underway to secure Charbagh region. The troops facing resistance from militant fighters in Kabal and Sarsanai areas, the statements said.Nine militants have been killed and six others were wounded in clashes in Peochar. The troops also destroyed militants arms and ammunition in the region.

18 militants killed, 2 soldiers martyred in Waziristan operation

RAWALPINDI: In last 24 hours, 18 militants were killed and 13 were apprehended in various areas of Swat and South Waziristan, while 2 soldiers embraced shahadat and 4 soldiers and 4 civilians were injured, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.According to the ISPR, normalcy is returning at Mingora at fast pace. Provision of food items and medicines are being organized and executed. Security forces have launched th ... Full Story

Bachchan threatens Australia snub over attacks

NEW DELHI ( 2009-05-31 00:39:17 ) :Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday threatened to reject an honorary doctorate from a Brisbane university to protest at a wave of attacks on Indian students in Australia."My conscience does not permit me to accept this decoration from a country that perpetrates such indignity to my fellow countrymen," Bachchan's blog post said.But the Indian movie icon said he would ask for fan feedback on whether he should turn down the degree."I shall put this up as my poll question and shall feel obliged if (my) extended family (of fans) can indicate to me their opinion for me to be able to take the correct action," he wrote.A series of attacks on Indian students has unleashed a furious reaction in India where the media has branded it "curry bashing."Photos of the latest attack victim Sravan Kumar Theerthala, lying in his hospital bed in a coma, were plastered across Saturday's newspaper front pages.Theerthala was left fighting for his life after being stabbed last weekend with a screwdriver by gatecrashers at a party in Melbourne. A 17-year-old male has been charged with attempted murder.Bachchan, 66, had previously said he would accept the honorary doctorate from Brisbane's Queensland University of Technology for his contribution to the world of entertainment. He was due to accept it in July. The baritone-voiced superstar expressed "great dismay and shock" at the attacks and said he meant "no disrespect to the institution that honours me" in wanting to refuse the degree.Bachchan, known as "The Big B," has a huge following in movie-mad India and is a daily fixture on television. Meanwhile, an Australian student stabbed at a Melbourne train station by two thieves last Monday told the Press Trust of India: "My advice to every Indian student now who wants to come to Australia is, 'Please don't come.' ""There's no life here," Baljinder Singh told the news agency from where he was recovering in a Melbourne hospital.The statements came as India said Saturday it was "closely monitoring" the situation of its students in Australia after the attacks which have raised diplomatic tensions between the two countries.External affairs spokesman Vishnu Prakash said India had received Australia's assurances that "they will be doing what is necessary to ensure that such attacks don't reoccur.""We are quite concerned at the brutal attacks that are taking place," he said.He was speaking a day after Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd phoned his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to pledge "the overwhelming majority of Indian students were safe" in his country, according to a government statement in New Delhi. Indians form the second-largest group of overseas students in Australia and there has been a spate of attacks on students from the subcontinent.Australian police have argued Indian students were often simply in the wrong place at the wrong time as they travelled home late at night with items such as mobile phones and portable MP3 players.But India's top diplomat in Australia, High Commissioner Sujatha Singh, said the number of Indian students being targeted indicated race played a part even if many of the attacks were "opportunistic."Police estimate Indians make up 30 percent of robbery victims in Melbourne's western suburbs, where many of the students live.There are almost 50,000 Indian students in Melbourne, boosting an international education sector that is the country's third-largest export earner, reaping 15.5 billion dollars (12.1 billion US) in 2008.

Saif taking ‘Love Aaj Kal’ to T20 World Cup

MUMBAI ( 2009-05-30 10:49:34 ) :Saif Ali Khan is all set to promote his debut film as a producer, Love Aaj Kal at the coming ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009 cricket tournament. The film, directed by Jab We Met fame Imtiaz Ali stars Saif alongside Deepika Padukone.The cricket tournament is slated to begin from 5 June and will culminate on 21 June with the finals.Our sources reveal that the lead pair of the film, Saif and Deepika will be travelling to England, where the tournament will be held and Saif will also be sharing the commentary box with Harsha Bhogle.Love Aaj Kal is co-produced by Eros International and has been held up from being releasing due to the on-going strike spurred by the tussle between Hindi film producers and multiplexes.Love Aaj Kal's tie-up with T20 World Cup will set the ball rolling in terms of promotions of movies that are slated to hit screens. If the strike ends soon, the film is likely to release by June end.Biren Ghose executive director of Eros International states “Basically we see that the cricket tournament is a great platform to promote our film following our last win at the World Cup.Love Aaj Kal is one of our biggest movies and we want to mount it on a large platform. We are co-producers with Saif’s Illuminati films and we also announced the title of the film recently. Since there is tremendous cache with Bollywood and sports we decided to tie up with ESPN to promote our film at the T-20 world cup. We will be unveiling the look of the film at the World Cup.”

Aishwarya to rock IIFA

MUMBAI ( 2009-06-01 10:40:50 ) :Known to be very selective about her stage performances, Aishwarya Rai is set to rock the IIFA finale with a sizzling performance. The awards night on the concluding day of the 10th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Macau, China, next month promises to be a special one. Not only will it witness the gathering of some of the best talents from the Indian film industry, it will feature several power-packed performances, most of them from Bollywood actresses. Aishwarya Rai, whose enthralling performance to the hit song ‘Kajra Re’ at the 2005 IIFA in Amsterdam is still etched in the memory of her fans, will take the stage again and perform to a medley of songsGiven the fact that her pa-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan , is the IIFA brand ambassador, it’s understood that not much persuasion was needed to get Ash to perform on the night of June 13 at The Venetian-Macau Resort where IIFA is going to be held from June 11 to 13.This year’s IIFA is special because it celebrates its tenth anniversary. The awards night will also have performances from Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor . In fact, Kareena is already learning belly dancing because she wants her IIFA act to be unique.Boman Irani , Ritesh Deshmukh and Lara Dutta will host the awards night.

Twenty20, new country for old men

Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya may be the oldest cricketer at 39 in the World Twenty20, but..

New comer Aamir aim to success in T20 WC, like Wasim's in 1992

KARACHI ( 2009-06-01 12:27:17 ) :The 17-year-old Aamir is the latest addition to Pakistan's pace armoury and has impressed everyone, including former skipper Wasim, with his pace and swing.When Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, Mohammad Aamir was not even born.But the newest pace sensation has a precious memento, a videotape of the glorious moments of Pakistan's famous triumph in Australia and he knows what it takes to become a champion."I was born two weeks after Pakistan won the World Cup but I watched the 1992 World Cup on tape and especially Wasim Akram's bowling," said Aamir, who modelled his style on the legendary left-arm paceman."I have watched him more than once and he's impressive with over 140kmh speed and can swing the ball both ways," Wasim told AFP, predicting the rookie paceman can be a "revelation" in the World Twenty20.Wasim came across Aamir in a talent-spotting programme, paving his way for selection for the Pakistan Under-19 tour to England in 2007.Aamir took eight wickets, including a match-winning 4-30 in the third one-day win.He also anchored Pakistan's win in the tri-nation Under-19 series in Sri Lanka, taking four wickets each against the hosts and England.He was tipped to help Pakistan defend their Under-19 World Cup title in 2008 but a dengue virus cut short his tournament, eventually won by India.Aamir hails from the small town of Gujjar Khan, some 30 kilometres from the capital Islamabad. He grew up in an academy and could easily have become a soldier, like his father."I was never interested in joining the army. I was attracted by cricket and by Wasim Akram," admitted Aamir, who learned the basics of the game at the Bajwa academy.Spotted and helped by cricket official Shakil Shaikh, Aamir gradually progressed to make an impressive first-class debut last year.He took 56 wickets in just ten games, which earned him a call for Pakistan's tour to Bangladesh in March."Aamir's strong point is that he can judge a batsman after a few deliveries and then plan his deliveries. His swing and pace can come in handy," said Shaikh.However, his international debut was delayed after Bangladesh postponed their planned one-day series because of security concerns.But his chance could come sooner rather than later after Shoaib Akhtar was withdrawn from the Twenty20 squad due to injury.Aamir is ready to grab his opportunity."My aim is to have success like Wasim's in 1992," said Aamir of Wasim, who finished as player of the 1992 World Cup tournament with 18 wickets. "I want a fairytale success, and will do my best for it."

President Asif Ali Zardari inspects relief goods during his visit to the Shah Mansoor Camp set up for Internally Displaced Persons, May 29, 2009.—APP

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday directed the government to immediately release Rs500 million from the Baitul Mal fund to meet the basic requirements of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in camps in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
The grant announced by the president is in addition to a Rs500 million fund earlier announced by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani for the IDPs. ‘President Zardari issued the order in view of the complaints lodged by parliamentarians from Malakand regarding problems of IDPs and after meeting a team of Pakistan American Congress on the issue of relief and rehabilitation of the people living in camps on Saturday,’ presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar told Dawn. The spokesman said the delegations had apprised the president that although the government had promised Rs25,000 for each displaced family, the IDPs were still deprived of basic needs.
President Zardari, he said, was deeply concerned about the people living in the camps and asked the government to step up the relief work with emphasis on transparency, monitoring and accountability.
‘Relief and rehabilitation of the displaced persons is central to this fight,’ the President said, adding ‘It is a fight that will be pursued to its logical conclusion and internally displaced persons were the heroes of the war against militancy.’ The President directed that the district committees set up during his visit to camps in Shah Mansoor near Swabi on Friday should begin working immediately and that its members should be available to the people round the clock to redress their problems.
‘Each and every internally displaced family and person will be rehabilitated in their homes with honour and dignity.’
‘The displaced people will not stay in the camps indefinitely and will return to their homes sooner than later and their properties damaged or destroyed by the militants will be repaired and rebuilt by the government,’ the President assured.
The President said the campaign for seeking international assistance will be boosted during his forthcoming visit to Brussels to ask the EU summit for massive assistance in the relief and rehabilitation operations.
He said the government will continued to be guided by its police of three Ds namely Dialogue, Deterrence and Development as guiding principles in waging war against militancy. This was a policy that had also been endorsed by the national parliament, he said.
The President reiterated the government’s commitment to not allow the militants impose their obscurantist agenda on the people through use of force, bullets and guns.
Apart from setting up five district committees, the President has already appointed an Additional Secretary to the President, Mohammad Shehzad Arbab, as focal/contact person in the President’s Secretariat to deal with all IDPs matters in the presidency.

'Swat operation achieved almost complete success'

SINGAPORE ( 2009-06-01 04:02:40 ) :Pakistan is confident its nuclear assets will not fall into militant hands because it is constantly reviewing security and getting help from friendly countries, a senior defence official said on Sunday. As Pakistan battles a Taliban insurgency, reports in the US media have raised the nightmare scenario of its nuclear weapons falling into militant hands.

"We are very confident," Secretary of Defence Syed Athar Ali told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a security conference in Singapore. "To talk of this falling into the wrong hands ... even the locations will not be known."

Ali did not name the countries helping Pakistan to ensure security. Last week, a source close to French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France and Pakistan are negotiating a partnership, including nuclear cooperation.

Nuclear security has been a question mark since Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered by many Pakistanis as the father of the country's nuclear bomb, confessed to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya in 2004. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, speaking at the conference on Saturday, gave a stern warning to North Korea after its nuclear test last week, saying it would be held accountable if it transferred any nuclear material outside its borders.

POCKETS OF RESISTANCE:

Pakistani forces have undertaken their most concerted offensive against an expanding Taliban insurgency that has raised fears for the nuclear-armed US ally's stability and the safety of its nuclear arsenal.

Military forces on Saturday regained full control of the main town in the Swat valley - the focus of the recent offensive to dislodge thousands of Taliban fighters. Ali, a retired general, said the army would remain in Swat until the police took firm control after a military operation that he expected to wrap up in two to three days. He said that the month-old military operations in Swat Valley ``have met almost complete success.' "Only 5 to 10 percent of the job is left and over the next two or three days this area will be cleared,".

"They are almost at the verge of calling it off. Only two to three days of operations on some pockets of resistance and one odd spot which is very narrow," Ali said. He said if the militants move to other areas, then a political decision would be needed to extend the operation beyond Swat.

"If the terrorists and militants move to other sanctuaries and hideouts, then of course the threat will be assessed," he said. "Any further action will be in the light of the political decisions."

In fact, Pakistani forces were battling militants on Sunday in South Waziristan near the Afghan border, an al Qaeda and Taliban stronghold, with military officials saying an offensive was likely there after Swat is secured. Ali said more financial help would be needed to rehabilitate hundreds of thousands of refugees that left the valley after the Taliban took control of Swat valley a few months back. He said terror attacks in Pakistan are being funded by drugs money from Afghanistan. "Unless the poppy cultivation and this nexus between the druglords, the warlords and the Taliban is broken there will be no end to this terrorism which is going on. That is why I have insisted the problem lies in Afghanistan."

Three killed, 16 hurt in Kohat blast

KOHAT ( 2009-06-01 13:29:17 ) :A bomb device went off at Tirah Bazaar bus stand in Kohat on Monday in which at least 16 persons were killed and four hurt, Aaj TV reported.

Large number of people was gathered at bus station at the time of blast.

The injured and bodies were shifted to hospitals where emergency has been imposed. Officials of bomb disposal squad and security agencies have reached the scene.

Police and the security agencies have cordoned off the area.

Punishment to start from arrest date: SC

SLAMABAD ( 2009-06-01 14:28:22 ) :The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has ordered to include relaxation in sentence given by government in the period of punishment of accused; however, this would not be applied on terrorism, ‘karo kari’ and NAB cases.

A six-member larger bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry gave its verdict in a case regarding duration of arrest of culprit.

According to details of the decision, relaxation in punishment given by president on different occasions would be counted in the duration among which the prisoner was arrested. However, this would not be applicable on the cases of karokari, terrorism and NAB cases.

The decision stated that president would not be barred to give pardon under constitution’s article no 45. The judicial sources said 10,000 prisoners would be benefited after SC decision.

Girls school blown up in Mohmand Agency

PESHAWAR ( 2009-06-01 12:35:21 ) :A government girls middle school has blown up in Shewafarash area of tehsil Lakro in Mohmand Agency.

According to sources, militants planted the explosives in school that exploded with a bang and destroyed the building completely. However, no loss of life was reported. Security forces started strict checking after the incident.

President, PM condemn Kohat blast

SLAMABAD ( 2009-06-01 15:43:00 ) :President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday strongly condemned the bomb blast at a bus stand in Kohat’s Tirah bazar killing innocent people.

In his message, the President said the perpetrators of such heinous crime would not be spared.

They expressed condolence over the loss of lives and said the government was committed to root out terrorism from the country.

Pak-India Indus Water Commission meeting begins

NEW DELHI ( 2009-06-01 05:08:40 ) :A three-day annual meeting of Pak-India Permanent Indus Water Commission began here on Sunday to discuss matters relating to flow of water in rivers, exchange of data and early flood warning system. Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah leading a 9-member delegation is representing Pakistan while G Aranganathan, Indian Indus water Commissioner along with his delegation is participating in the talks.

Mysterious 'chip' is CIA's latest weapon against militant hideouts in Pak

PESHAWAR ( 2009-06-01 10:18:17 ) :The CIA is equipping Pakistani tribesmen with secret electronic transmitters to help target and kill al Qaida leaders in the tribal belt, in a tactic that could aid Pakistan's army as it takes the battle against extremism.

As the army mops up Taliban resistance in the Swat valley, where a defence official predicted fighting would be over within days, the focus is shifting to Waziristan and the Taliban warlord Baitullah Mehsud.

But a deadly war of wits is already under way in the region, where tribesmen say the US is using advanced technology and old-fashioned cash to target the enemy.

Over the last 18 months the US has launched more than 50 drone attacks, mostly in South and North Waziristan. US officials claim nine of the top 20 al Qaida figures have been killed.

That success is reportedly in part thanks to the mysterious electronic devices, dubbed "chips" or "pathrai" (the Pashto word for a metal device), which have become a source of fear, intrigue and fascination.

"Everyone is talking about it," said Taj Muhammad Wazir, a student from South Waziristan. "People are scared that if a pathrai comes into your house, a drone will attack it."

According to residents and Taliban propaganda, the CIA pays tribesmen to plant the electronic devices near farmhouses sheltering al Qaida and Taliban commanders.

Hours or days later, a drone, guided by the signal from the chip, destroys the building with a salvo of missiles. "There are body parts everywhere," said Wazir, who witnessed the aftermath of a strike.

Until now the drone strikes were the only threat to militants in Waziristan, where the Pakistani army had, in effect, abandoned the fight. But now, emboldened by a successful campaign to drive militants out of Swat, a region about 80 miles from Islamabad, the army is preparing to regain lost ground in the more remote eastern tribal belt.

For the US military, drones have proved to be an effective weapon against al Qaida targets, although they have done little to prevent militants from attacking targets inside Pakistan.

It is a high-tech assassination operation for one of the world's most remote areas. The pilotless aircraft, Predators or more sophisticated Reapers, take off from a base in Balochistan province. But they are guided by a joystick-wielding operator half a world away, at a US air force base 35 miles north of Las Vegas. Barack Obama has approved the drone campaign, which is cheap and limits the danger posed to US troops. But the strikes have many unintended victims.

A Pakistani newspaper estimated that 700 people had been killed since 2006, most of them civilians, as a result of drone attacks.

President convenes meeting to discuss security situation

SLAMABAD : President Asif Ali Zardari has convened a high level meeting here on Monday to discuss the security and law and order in the wake of military action in Swat. The meeting will be attended by concerned federal ministers, chief ministers, Gove ....

Last Titanic survivor dies in England

LONDON: Millvina Dean, the last remaining survivor of the Titanic, died Sunday at a care home in England where the lived, a British news channel reported, citing a unnamed friend. She was 97.

Dean was a two-month-old baby and her family were emigrating to Kansas in the United States when the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on its maiden voyage in 1912.

She was placed in a sack and carried to safety. Her mother and brother also survived, but her father was among the 1,500 passengers and crew who died.

Dhoni ready to defend Twenty20 World Cup title

LONDON: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is looking forward to uniting all the talents at his disposal during the World Twenty20 in England.

India are the defending World Twenty20 champions after winning the inaugural edition in South Africa two years ago.

"Of course it is a pleasure representing your country after the IPL where you have limited talent in your side," Dhoni told reporters at Lord’s here.

"But here we have plenty of options and we have the cream of the IPL so there is less pressure on each and every individual."


"The best thing is that our youngsters will know how to handle pressure, when in the last over you need 10 or 15 runs, everyone in our side has faced that situation.

"It’s good exposure for our guys to play against guys like Brett Lee and Shane Warne.

India have been drawn in Group A alongside Asian rivals Bangladesh - who defeated India at the 2007 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean and Ireland - who beat both Bangladesh and Pakistan in the West Indies two years ago.

Petroleum products' prices to remain unchanged

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) notified on Sunday that on the advice of the Federal Government the maximum ex-depot sale prices, effective June 01, 2009 of the four products would remain unchanged. These products include Motor Spirit Rs. 56.21, HOBC Rs. 70.28, Kerosene Oil Rs. 51.87 and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) Rs. 48.00. High Speed Diesel (HSD) price is deregulated and therefore the same is being maintained by the o .... Full Story

New National Judicial Policy stands enforced

ISLAMABAD: The National Judicial Policy has been enforced from June 1 sets apparently an impossible task of clearing a huge backlog of 1.5 million cases in subordinate judiciary and 0.13 million cases in the superior judiciary in just one year despite facing a shortage of 380 judges and judicial officers in courts.

The new policy, approved by the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee, headed by the CJ, carries the slogan: “A year