Musharraf, Aziz directs for probe into Karachi bombing on modern lines
ISLAMABAD: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have directed all the intelligence agencies to immediately trace out the elements responsible for the Nishtar Park tragedy by conducting investigation into the deadliest mishap on modern lines.
The prime minister called on the president in Rawalpindi immediately he landed here after touring Karachi and briefed him about overall situation of law and order, reports of the intelligence agencies and other probes with regard to the Tuesday’s bomb explosion in Karachi.
Mr. Aziz told the president: “As per latest investigation reports, the Tusday’s bombing in Karahi was a suicide bomb explosion; however, investigations are afoot to trace out the culprits responsible for the deadliest assault.”
According to sources of the House of President, President Musharraf has issued directives all the intelligence agencies to instantly find out that involved in the suicide attack.
The president and prime minister the government would not allow terrorists to play with people’s lives and those behind the Nishtar Park suicide attack would be brought to book.
The religious events from now onward would completely watched in Karachi, they told adding that more directives for beefing up the security measures have also been issued to maintain law and order in the city.
Eurocopter unveils South Korean helicopter deal
(Updated at 0010 PST)
PARIS: European helicopter maker Eurocopter said Thursday that the South Korean government had approved the production of 245 military transport helicopters that are to be built jointly by Eurocopter and a South Korean company.
Eurocopter, a subsidiary of European aerospace and defence giant EADS, is to team up with Korea Aerospace Industries for the project, worth a total of 6.0-8.0 billion dollars (4.9-6.6 billion euros).
The European group, whose share of the order is valued at 1.5 billion dollars, was picked by South Korea's defence ministry as the winning foreign bidder for the project in December.
Production is to begin in 2011. The final decision to place the order was taken on Wednesday, Eurocopter said.
UN watchdog chief says Iranian enrichment claim not yet confirmed
(Updated at 2340 PST)
TEHRAN: Iran's claim to have made a breakthrough in its nuclear programme by enriching uranium to make reactor fuel has not yet been confirmed by the UN atomic watchdog, its director Mohamed ElBaradei said Thursday.
"I cannot confirm this," ElBaradei replied when asked if Iran had enriched uranium to 3.5 percent, the level needed for reactor fuel.
"Our inspectors have taken samples they will report to the board," he added, referring to the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Baghdad car bomb kills 15 in Shiite neighborhood
(Updated at 2340 PST)
BAGHDAD: Iraq's sectarian tensions intensified Thursday as a car bomb killed 15 people in a Baghdad Shiite neighborhood and the brother of a senior Sunni politician was shot dead.
The car bomb ripped a market located in Baghdad's western Kadhimiyah neighourhood at 7:45 pm (1545 GMT), killing 15 and wounding 22, an interior ministry official said.
The blast was the latest in a string of attacks that have shaken central Iraq, where feuds among the country's Shiite majority and its onetime Sunni elite have resulted in bloodshed since the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
In another provocative attack, the brother of prominent Sunni Arab politician Tareq al-Hashemi and his companion were killed Thursday in a drive-by shooting in central Baghdad, police and sources from Hashemi's Islamic Party told.
Hashemi's party is the leading member of the Sunni National Concord Front coalition, which holds 44 seats in parliament.
Nepal's king calls for general election
(Updated at 2330 PST)
KATHMANDU: Nepal's King Gyanendra has called for general elections in the Maoist-insurgency wracked nation, after a week of anti-royal protests, in an address broadcast on state media Thursday.
Pak-US joint investment pact to be inked soon: Humayun Akhtar
(Updated at 2320 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan will adopt such initiatives in next budget and trade policy, aiming at low production cost. As a result, it would boost up country’s export volume.
Federal Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan, said this here at a meeting of the advisory council with regarding to formation of federal budget and trade policy for year 2006-07.
He said an agreement with America with regard to joint investment would be inked in coming few months.
Trade union leaders from country’s different parts demanded at the meeting annulment of import duty on raw material and lowering of product cost by altering taxes.
Chairman Central Board of Revenue Abdullah Yousuf told the meeting the government would resolve traders’ tax related problems in the next budget.
Pakistan, US talks over trade relations
(Updated at 2315 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Assistant US Trade Representative, Douglas Alan Hartwick called on Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan here on Thursday to discuss trade relations between the United States and Pakistan.
Issues concerning Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) were discussed at length.
The Commerce Minister urged the AUSTR to convene the TIFA council meeting as soon as possible with highest level participation from the US to boost trade relations between the two countries, according to a press release issued here.
The last TIFA meeting was held in September, 2004 in Washington DC. It is now Islamabad's turn to hold the meeting.
It was agreed holding the meeting as soon as possible, given the long lapse of time since the last meeting, was in mutual interest of both the countries.
It was also agreed that BIT must be concluded as early as possible. Both the sides were sanguine about the early signing of the treaty which would lead to FTA between the two countries.
The Commerce Minister stated that Pakistan wanted to enter into an FTA with USA. He was of the opinion that market access for Pakistani products in the US market was vital as it would alleviate poverty.
Both the sides discussed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) -- an initiative announced by the US president during his recent visit to Pakistan.
Under this arrangement, goods manufactured in ROZs will enter USA duty free when they meet agreed rules of origin requirement.
The minister stressed the need to expedite finalization of the modalities for ROZs.
Pakistan's trade with USA has progressed over the last few years and the exports to USA increased by 13.2% in the year 2005 compared to 2004. In our major export sectors of textiles and apparels, exports grew by 14%.
In the current year, exports from Pakistan have shown promise as seen by the statistics available so far for January 2006.
Pakistan's exports of textiles and apparels have increased by 46% in January 2006 compared to January 2005.
Three martyred laid to rest, Akram Qadri to be buried late night
(Updated at 2300 PST)
KARACHI: The central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek, Abbas Qadri, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Iftikhar Bhatti were laid to rest, while burial of Akram Qadri will be performed at late night
Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer were laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while body of Akram Qadri was taken to New Karachi where he will be laid to rest late night today at the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 area as per his father’s wish.
Iran refuses to suspend sensitive nuclear work
(Updated at 2150 PST)
Tehran: Iran today said after talks with the head of the UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei that it would not bow to demands it freeze uranium enrichment.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told reporters that the UN Security Council's call for Iran to return to a freeze on the sensitive work "was not very important".
"Every action must be reasonable and logical. We are cooperating in a constructive manner with the (International Atomic Energy) agency, and Mr ElBaradei is here and the inspectors and cameras are here, so such a proposal is not very important to solve the problem," he told reporters.
The 24-hour visit by the head of the IAEA comes two days after Iran announced its scientists had successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel.
The Islamic republic insists its programme is a peaceful bid to generate electricity, but the enrichment process can be extended to make the fissile core of a nuclear warhead.
The UN Security Council has set April 28 as a deadline for Tehran to halt enrichment.
ElBaradei said that talks on the "difficult and important" issue would continue.
"I can tell you on the issue of cooperation to resolve outstanding issues, Mr Larijani renewed his commitment that the Islamic republic of Iran will accelerate its efforts to work with us in next couple of weeks to provide clarity to the issue that we need to clarify," he said.
Brother of Saddam’s son-in-law murdered
(Updated at 2100 PST)
BAGHDAD: Brother of former Iraqi president Saddam’s son-in-law has been killed after he was kidnapped.
According to Saddam’s relatives in Oman as reported by a Franceh news agency told Jamal Kamil Hassan, 36, was abducted from Iraq and his kidnappers had demanded US$ 1 million ransom for his release.
However, the kidnappers have murdered Jamal Kamil Hassan for low payment of ransom for his release and his dead body was laid in a Baghdad’s morgue.
The Iraqi security forces have not confirmed the death as yet.
Mufti Muneeb says case of Karachi tragedy lodged in divine court
(Updated at 2055 PST)
Karachi: Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman has said that Almighty Allah is always on the side of those who act with patience and tolerance.
While addressing a large gathering before the funeral prayer of Nishtar Park incident’s martyrs he said that the nation should act patiently. He said that the case has been lodged in the divine court and hope for justice is attached to only Almighty Allah.
Funeral prayer of martyrs performed in Karachi
(Updated at 2040 PST)
KARACHI: The Funeral prayer of central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek Abbas Qadri, Akram Qadri, Dr Abdul Qadeer and Iftikhar Bhatti was performed here at the Jaama Cloth market.
Noted religious scholar and Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, performed the funeral prayer.
Prominent religious and political leaders of different religious and political parties, PML-N's Saleem Zia, Peoples Party's Nisar Khoro, Allama Shah Turab-ul-Haq, a huge number of activists of Sunni Tehreek and local people attended the funeral prayer.
Dead bodies of Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer will be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while body of Akram Qadri was taken to New Karachi where he will be laid to rest at the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 area as per his father’s wish.
Security measures have been beefed up and heavy contingency of the police and Rangers troops have been deployed at different sensitive places.
Troops of Army are patrolling in different parts of the city to avoid any untoward mishap.
Saudi Crown Prince to visit Pakistan on Apr 15
(Updated at 2010 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will be
accorded warm welcome when he arrives here on April 15 on two days visit to Pakistan.
Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General of the Kingdom had earlier visited Pakistan in 1981 and 1999 in his capacity as defence minister.
Pakistan will be the last leg of the Prince's three-nation Asia tour that also included Japan and Singapore.
During his two-day stay in Islamabad, the Prince will hold talks with President General Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
A banquet and an official lunch will be hosted in his honour by the President and the Prime Minister.
Bodies of martyred Sunni Tehreek’s leaders at main office
(Updated at 1940 PST) By Aga Khalid
KARACHI: Corpses of central leaders of the Sunni Tehreek Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr. Abdul Qadeer have been brought at the Sunni Tehreek Center here, while the corpses of Maullana Abbas Qadri and Akram Qadri would be brought a while later as they are en route to the Center.
A big number of people have gathered at the Sunni Tehreek Center and are hurling slogans.
Funeral prayer of the Martyred souls would be performed here at the M.A. Jinnah road near Jaamah Cloth market.
Dead bodies of Abbas Qadri, Iftikhar Bhatti and Dr Abdul Qadeer would be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Masjid-e-Qasaban adjacent to shrine of Alam Shah Bukhari here, while martyred Akram Qadri would be laid to rest in the courtyard of the Raza Academy located at G-11 in New Karachi as per his father’s wish.
Security measures have been beefed up and heavy contingency of police and Rangers troops have been deployed at all the routes going to the Sunni Tehreek Center and everyone is being searched going there.
Japan condemns Karachi blast, condoles over deaths
(Updated at 1915 PST)
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Japan has strongly condemned the bomb attack that occurred at Serat-un-Nabi conference at Nishter Park, Karachi on April 11, 2006.
In a statement issued here by Embassy of Japan on Thursday, Government expressed deepest condolences to the victims of the attacks and their bereaved families and heartfelt sympathy for those injured in the incident.
Japanese Government reaffirmed its position that terrorism cannot be justified by any reason and reiterated its condemnation for any type of terrorism. Japan assured that it would continue to
strengthen its cooperation with Pakistan in the international efforts for tackling terrorism.
Afghan leader, Indian PM urge joint fight against terrorism
(Updated at 1910 PST)
NEW DELHI: Afghan President Hamid Karzai Thursday ended a trip to India during which leaders of both sides called for a pooling of resources to fight terrorism and urged that Pakistan join their efforts.
Karzai, on his second visit to India in two years, won his host's backing for his efforts to counter terrorism in Afghanistan, said an official statement following talks between him and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh.
Singh suggested at a news conference Monday that New Delhi, Kabul and Islamabad pool resources to curb terrorism which he said was affecting all three countries.
"Terrorism today has acquired new dimensions and I find in our region even Pakistan is not immune from terrorism," Singh told reporters.
Pakistan hands telecom firm to Etisalat
(Updated at 1905 PST)
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have passed control of the country's largest telecom to United Arab Emirates Etisalat, after a bid of 2.6 billion dollars in June last year, officials said Thursday.
The management control of Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) was formally transferred to Etisalat late Wednesday in Islamabad by inducting its directors at the board of PTCL.
"The nominees of Etisalat were formally co-opted on the PTCL board and its group of companies to complete formal handing over of the company's management to the new owner," a spokesman of state-run Privatisation Commission said.
The deal had foundered in October when Etisalat failed to meet a deadline for full payment but marathon talks between Pakistan and the UAE based firm saved the sale.
The Share Purchase Agreement was finally signed last month after Etisalat paid the initial amount of 1.4 billion dollars, the official said requesting anonymity.
Under the agreement the balance of 1.2 billion dollars will be paid in nine equal installments on a half-yearly basis, he said.
The government is planning privatisation of several state-run companies, including Pakistan's largest petroleum marketing company, gas companies and other units.
The sale of state assets is to help repay 36.7 billion dollars in foreign loans and finance development projects at home, where more than a third of the population live in poverty.
More troops being deployed as tensions mounts in bomb-hit Karachi
(Updated at 1900 PST)
KARACHI: Troops were being deployed in Karachi on Thursday as trouble broke out before funerals for Sunni Muslim leaders who were among 57 people killed in a suicide blast two days ago.
Angry youths wielding sticks torched at least four buses and one car, police said. They burnt tyres in the street and forced shops in the city to close.
Most petrol stations and markets were shut and the government has closed educational institutions for three days.
"The army has been deployed at sensitive places in the city to assist the civil administration in case of any eventuality," a military spokesman told.
"It is a preventative deployment." Organisers said they expect thousands of people to attend funeral prayers for Sunni leaders later Thursday in the volatile port city.
Ten top leaders of the Sunni Tehreek religious party, including its chief Abbas Qadri, were among those killed in the blast on Tuesday at Karachi's Nishtar Park during a ceremony to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but there were fears it could start a fresh cycle of sectarian violence between militants from Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shiite communities.
Police and paramilitary soldiers have been deployed in strength in the area around Qadri's home. Regular troops paraded along major roads before taking up positions at intersections.
Sunni groups said the protest over the bombing would continue until Sunday. A six-party religious alliance known as Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal decided to observe Friday as a "black day" of protest.
The moderate Sunni Tehreek religious party said it had received threats before Tuesday's attack. It has given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to catch the culprits.
"Karachi is mourning the death of so many religious leaders and scholars," said Shahid Ghori, head of a three-member supervisory committee which will run the party's affairs after the bombing wiped out its top leadership.
"We have presented our demands to the government, it is up to them to arrest the culprits," Ghori told reporters.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who flew to Karachi and met religious leaders, said investigators were looking into all aspects. "I assure you we will unearth the culprits," he said.
Police detained a man belonging to the Shiite sect who was injured in the blast.
Mohammad Hussain Balti "is being questioned for his presence in a Sunni congregation," a senior police officer told on condition of anonymity.Police investigators have also released the photograph of the face of a suspected suicide bomber.
"We may still wait for one or two days if someone comes to identify the suspect, a bearded man who looked like an ethnic Pashtun or an Afghan," chief investigator Manzoor Mughal said.
Tuesday's attack was the deadliest in Pakistan since a double bombing in Karachi in 1987 killed more than 70 people. Islamabad blamed that attack on Afghan intelligence agents.
Pak-US civil nuke deal possible: US Senator
(Updated at 1750 PST)
Islamabad: Visiting US Senator Chuck Hagel on Thursday said that the U.S. offer to supply rival India with civil nuclear technology would ever be extended to Pakistan.
Hagel did not rule out the eventuality and said, "There may well be a future agreement between Pakistan and the U.S.”
President Pervez Musharraf earlier expressed concerns on the implications of the U.S.-India nuclear deal for regional stability and security.
Musharraf made the remarks when he met with U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, who called on him in Rawalpindi, a Pakistani foreign ministry statement said.
He also said Pakistan must have access to civil nuclear energy and look forward to international cooperation in this regard.
Pakistan's expanding energy requirements would be met through a verity of sources, including nuclear power generation, said Musharraf.
Hagel expressed appreciation for Pakistan's role in fighting extremism and terrorism.
While talking on Iran’s issue Hagel informed, “I do not expect any kind of military solution on the Iran issue,"
Hagel said President George W. Bush and senior members of his cabinet had said the military option was not a responsible approach to resolving the issues.
"I think to further comment on it would be complete speculation, but I would say that a military strike against Iran, a military option, is not a viable, feasible, responsible option," he added.
IAEA chief backs Iran negotiations
(Updated at 1735 PST)
TEHRAN: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency today said the "time is right for a political solution" to the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme.
Speaking after the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had defied international calls for the programme to be halted, Mohamed ElBaradei said: "The way is negotiations."
The UN nuclear watchdog's chief was speaking after arriving in Tehran for talks intended "to clarify remaining issues about Iran's nuclear programme".
He said Iran should suspend nuclear activities as a confidence-building measure "until outstanding issues are clarified".
"I would like to see Iran come to terms with the requests of the international community," he added.
Yesterday, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran would ignore international pressure to halt uranium enrichment. He pledged to press ahead with industrial-scale uranium enrichment and said the world must treat Iran as a nuclear power.
"We know they [the US and its allies] are waiting for us to retreat an inch so that they use that [against us]," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted him as saying.
"Today, our situation has changed completely. We are a nuclear country and speak to others from the position of a nuclear country. We won't hold talks with anyone about the right of Iranian nation [to enrich uranium] and no one has the right to retreat, even one iota."
Two days ago, the Iranian president revealed his country had for the first time enriched uranium to a level used in power stations.
The declaration sparked international concern, but western diplomats and atomic experts said Iran was still far from producing the weapons-grade uranium needed to produce nuclear warheads.
There are suspicions that Iran could be exaggerating the rate of its progress to enhance its standing as a potential member of the "nuclear club".
The US said the UN security council, which can impose sanctions, must take "strong steps" to prevent further nuclear activity by Tehran.
KSE-100 index closes on positive note, up 69 points
(Updated at 1720 PST)
KARACHI: Mournful atmosphere prevailed today at the Karachi Stock Exchange following the Nishtar Park tragedy that claimed around fifty lives.
While the trading at the start remained caught in stress, trading in oil and gas sector took the index to a new record height.
The 100-index closed at 12061, up 69 points.
Today’s trading session opened with 55 points down due to two days’ closing following the Nishtar Park tragedy.
Nerve-racking trading was witnessed in the oil and gas, cement and banking sectors, pushing the index as low as 99 points. But, trading in Pakistan Oil Fields, OGDC and Adamjee Insurance drove the index into a positive zone.
Later, the index again collapsed into a negative zone owing to skewed trading in fertilizer and banking sectors.
Despite the fluctuation, the index eventually managed to close on a positive note, gaining 69 points.
Sri Lanka Tigers seek to postpone Swiss talks
(Updated at 1540 PST)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels asked peacebroker Norway to postpone ceasefire talks scheduled for next week in Switzerland amid rising violence in the island, a guerrilla official told foreign news agency.
Afghan, coalition forces launch major anti-Taliban operation
(Updated at 1500 PST)
KABUL: Thousands of Afghan and coalition troops backed by US and British warplanes continued strikes on Thursday on a known insurgent area in a major new operation in eastern Afghanistan.
About 2,500 troops launched Operation Mountain Lion Wednesday with a series of predawn air and ground assaults in eastern Kunar province, in one of their biggest campaigns since the overthrow of Taliban government in late 2001.
The US military said late Tuesday six insurgents were killed at the start of the assault, seen as direct retaliation to a new spring offensive launched by the Taliban with a stream of suicide blasts and other attacks.
Zawahiri praises insurgency
(Updated at 1450 PST)
BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has appeared in a video praising insurgents in Iraq, and in particular, militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
He describes Zarqawi, a Jordanian and the leading Jihadi militant in Iraq, as his "beloved brother" and calls on Muslims to support him.
"I have lived with him up close and have seen nothing but good from him," Zawahiri says in the video.
The tape dated November 2005 appeared on the internet on Thursday.
FC fort attacked in Dera Bugti
(Updated at 1400 PST)
DERA BUGTI: Miscreants attacked FC fort here on Thursday, however, no loss of life was reported.
The FC personnel successfully controlled the situation and the assailants fled when the security forces started fire in retaliation, the sources said.
The security forces also defused land mine, which was aimed at destroying tanks, at Pir Koh near Dera Bugti.
Meanwhile, land mine explosion occurred in Kohlu near a check post of FC, but here also no casualty was reported.
Australia win first test against Bangladesh
(Updated at 1355 PST)
FATULLAH: Australia wins the first cricket test against Bangladesh by three wickets on Thursday.
Scores: Bangladesh first innings 427 and second innings 148.
Australia first innings 269 and second innings 307-7.
Gunmen storm Palestinian PM's office
(Updated at 1340 PST)
RAMALLAH: Around 20 gunmen from the radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade on Thursday stormed the Palestinian prime minister's office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, a security source said.
Rocket strikes near Afghan presidential palace
(Updated at 1320 PST)
KABUL: A rocket fired by unknown attackers struck a few hundred meters from the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital and landed in a defence ministry compound, the interior ministry on Thursday.
The rocket, fired about 10:00 pm (1630 GMT) Wednesday, caused no casualties, ministry spokesman Yousuf Stanizai said.
The defence ministry compound is near the palace, where President Hamid Karzai lives and works. But the rocket hit while he was on an official visit to India.
Salman Khan gets bail
(Updated at 1300 PST)
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Thursday granted bail in the 1998 black buck hunting case. He will be set free by evening.
The actor spent three nights in Jodhpur jail.
Salman was on Monday sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment and sent to central jail in Jodhpur by a local court in connection with the 1998 black buck poaching case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Brijendra Kumar Jain had also imposed Rs 25,000 fine on the star, who was taken into custody and sent to the jail.
Al-Qaeda man killed in N. Waziristan security forces’ raid
(Updated at 1245 PST)
MIRAN SHAH: At least eight people including five foreigners were killed in an air raid by Pakistan security forces on their hideout in Nagar area of North Waziristan tribal region.
One of the slain foreigners was identified, as Mohsin Musa wanted to the United States with US five million dollars’ head money.
The security forces used two Cobra helicopter gunships in attack on a compound in Nagar, six km south of Miranshah, the main town of the North Waziristan region, after the security forces received information about the presence of foreign fighters there.
Security forces also attacked hideouts of miscreants with artillery fire, while helicopter gunships also aid the forces with aerial raid.
Sherpao, Ijazul Haq visit Sunni Tehrik office
(Updated at 1235 PST)
KARACHI: Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Minister of Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq and other top government officials visited central office of Sunni Tehrik and expressed sympathies with caretaker leaders of the party over losses of life in Nishtar Park incident.
Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Ijazul Haq accompanied by CCPO Karachi and other high officials reached to the central office of Sunni Tehrik on the night between Wednesday and Thursday. They condoled deaths of Ulema with Sunni Tehrik leaders and expressed their sympathies with bereaved families.
Caretaker leader of Sunni Tehrik Nadeem Ghouri expressed his party’s reservations to the ministers. He also demanded of the federal government for end of no go areas in Karachi.
Federal Minister of Interior Aftab Ahmed Sherpao assured the Sunni Tehrik leaders that investigation of the incident being carried out by the federal and provincial governments in a proper way.
Nishtar Park tragedy case yet to be registered
(Updated at 1210 PST)
KARACHI: The Soldier Bazaar police have not yet registered any case even after passing 36 hours of Tuesday’s blast.
According to police, daily dairy (Roznamcha) of the police station had been stopped and police is waiting for complainant to lodge FIR.
The police sources added that permission of the public meeting was issued on the name of Shah Turabul Haq and legally he should be the complainant of the case.
So far nobody has contacted the police, therefore, police gathering information themselves. Police have recorded statements of over dozen of witnesses including some injured. CID Police, Investigation and other agencies are investigating the incident.
Malaria kills 35 in India
(Updated at 1200 PST)
GUWAHATI: Indian authorities in the northeastern state of Assam sounded a health alert on Thursday on a malaria epidemic that has claimed at least 35 lives and affected 20,000 people.
"A maximum alert has been sounded across Assam, and medical teams are working on a war footing to check the spread of malaria," Assam health minister Bhumidhar Barman told media.
Troops called in Karachi
(Updated at 1110 PST) By Afzal Nadeem
KARACHI: Authorities have called army in Karachi to extend help in maintenance of law and order in the city.
According to a statement released by the ISPR, the troops have been deployed at sensitive areas in the city and would assist the civil administration to avoid any untoward incident.
Life stands still in Karachi on second day of Nishtar Park tragedy
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