Won’t allow anyone to disrupt Karachi peace: Nawaz
BADIN: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif said no one will be allowed to disrupt the peace of Karachi – the economic hub of Pakistan.
Addressing a program on the occasion of death anniversary of Shaheed Fazil Rahu, Nawaz Sharif said there should not be any no-go areas for any Pakistani citizen in the country. “No one will be allowed to ruin the peace of Pakistan,” he added
He said he knew very well as to who was involved in spreading unrest across Karachi. “Gunshots are being fired everywhere in the city and people are being killed everyday,” Nawaz Sharif regretted.
The PML-N Chief said he had ended the ‘Daku Raaj’ (gang control) in Sindh during his rule, urging the Sindh Government to put a check on incidents of kidnapping for ransom.
“Pakistan is not a property of any individual or a group, it belongs to the whole nation,” he asserted, calling upon the people to rise against tyranny.
He said no one would be allowed to set aside people’s mandate and bring oppressive rule in the country. “My revolution envisages a journey from poverty to prosperity, it does not comprise dead bodies in gunny sacks and giving Kalashnikovs in the hands of children,” he added.
Nawaz Sharif complained that mere one or two points of Charter of Democracy (CoD) had so far been implemented and added that he had asked the Prime Minister to accept his agenda.
“I have asked the government to root out corruption and sack the people involved in unscrupulous practices and scandals,” he told the gathering.
He regretted that the assassins of Ms Benazir Bhutto have still not been brought to justice.
==================================================
Shah Rukh, Katrina in KJo’s next
MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan has scores of reasons to rejoice for. The actor, who bagged the prestigious Zee Cine Award in the Best Popular Actor category, will soon be seen romancing the dazzling Katrina Kaif onscreen. With the duo not having a single movie together to their credit, many top movie directors are now gearing up to bring the dishy pair together for a film.
And even though the infamous fight between SRK and Salman at Katrina’s birthday party had made her averse to sharing screen space with SRK, the fact that all leading ladies have romanced SRK is now persuading Kat to follow suit.
And that’s not all. As per reports, even Shah Rukh is keen to work with Katrina. Sources have revealed, "At Hrithik Roshan’s birthday bash, Katrina was seen enjoying SRK’s company.
The two talked for a long time and there was hardly any sign of animosity between the two. Not only that, Shah Rukh even escorted Kat back to her car. She left the party with Karan Johar.”
As for the director that is working hard to bring the two together onscreen, it’s none other than Karan Johar. Well, here’s looking forward to this jinxed pair coming together.
==========================================
US rejects hand in cross border shelling
ISLAMABAD: U.S. embassy on Saturday ruled out reports suggesting involvement of NATO in any cross border shelling incident on January 13.
Spokesman for U.S. embassy while commenting on the reports that NATO forces were involved in a cross-border shelling incident on January 13, which left eight Pakistani civilians killed, said that these reports are baseless and incorrect.
The spokesman said, “U.S. Embassy officials confirmed with NATO commanders and found that no NATO force was involved in any attack on January 13 in or affecting Pakistani territory.”
“All NATO operations in Afghanistan conducted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region are closely coordinated with the Government of Pakistan,” said the spokesman.
Spokesman for U.S. embassy while commenting on the reports that NATO forces were involved in a cross-border shelling incident on January 13, which left eight Pakistani civilians killed, said that these reports are baseless and incorrect.
The spokesman said, “U.S. Embassy officials confirmed with NATO commanders and found that no NATO force was involved in any attack on January 13 in or affecting Pakistani territory.”
“All NATO operations in Afghanistan conducted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region are closely coordinated with the Government of Pakistan,” said the spokesman.
=============================================================
Partial curfew to be imposed in some Karachi areas: Malik
KARACHI: Partial curfew would be imposed in some Karachi areas Interior Minister Rehman Malik told media after holding an important meeting regarding law and order situation of the metropolis, Geo News reported.
He pointed out that a third party wanted to create differences among the three coalition parties Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP). ‘But all the leaders, President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Altaf Hussain and Asfandar Wali, are on the same lines to curb this menace.’
He pointed out that a third party wanted to create differences among the three coalition parties Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP). ‘But all the leaders, President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Altaf Hussain and Asfandar Wali, are on the same lines to curb this menace.’
He also held a crucial meeting with Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah before leaving to Islamabad. The minister pointed out that aerial surveillance of the volatile areas would be conducted adding that some target killers have been apprehended red handed.
‘Terrorism is the national issues and it is the responsibility of the government to provide security to the people.’
===========================================================
CNG stations to remain closed in Potohar region today
ISLAMABAD: CNG stations in upper parts of Punjab, from Jehlum to Attock, would remain closed today under gas load management plan, Geo News reported on Saturday.Around 600 CNG pumps of Potohar region including federal capital Islamabad remain close on Friday and Saturday under the plan.
The gas supply from these CNGs would resume on Sunday morning.
The gas supply from these CNGs would resume on Sunday morning.
================================================================
Cold wave grips upper parts of the country
ISLAMABAD: The upper parts of the country are in the grip severe cold owing to snowfall, Geo News reported on Saturday.
The wave of snowfall started last night is continue in Abbottabad, Swat, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Chitral, Skardu and other parts.Abbottabad-Marri road has been closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snow.
The wave of snowfall started last night is continue in Abbottabad, Swat, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Chitral, Skardu and other parts.Abbottabad-Marri road has been closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snow.
In tribal areas including Kurram Agency, South and North Waziristan and others are also in grip of cold due to snowfall.These areas are facing shortage of fuel adding miseries to the masses. Prices of gas cylinder and wood have also been hiked. Routine life had been badly affected owing to this severe cold. Children are among the most affected.
=================================================================
64 pilgrims die in south India stampede
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At least 64 people died and scores were injured Friday in a stampede at a religious festival in southern India triggered by a vehicle crashing into a crowd, officials said.
The tragedy happened on Friday at around 20:00 local time (1630 GMT) in a remote mountainous area during a pilgrimage to the Hindu shrine of Sabarimala that draws three to four million people each year, according to organisers.
State Home Minister Kodiuyeri Balakrishnan told media that sixty-four bodies had been retrieved from the hilly and densely forested area where pilgrims were crammed onto narrow roads at the end of the winter festival season.
The tragedy happened on Friday at around 20:00 local time (1630 GMT) in a remote mountainous area during a pilgrimage to the Hindu shrine of Sabarimala that draws three to four million people each year, according to organisers.
State Home Minister Kodiuyeri Balakrishnan told media that sixty-four bodies had been retrieved from the hilly and densely forested area where pilgrims were crammed onto narrow roads at the end of the winter festival season.
"Relief operations are going on," he said amid suggestions from other officials that the death toll could rise.
Special police commissioner Rajendra Nair said that 100 pilgrims might have died in the accident, while state Education Minister M.A. Baby said the final death toll could climb as high as 90.
The official news agency reported that the rescue effort was being hampered by the remote location, thick forest covering and narrow roads which made the region difficult for the emergency services to access.
Stampedes at public events in India are common as large numbers of people crowd into congested areas. Panic can spread quickly and, with surging crowds and few safety regulations in place, the result is often lethal.
Details were still emerging early Saturday of the cause of the stampede, but initial reports said either a bus or a jeep crashed into the tightly-packed crowd.
==================================================================
Women want rich husbands
LONDON: A new report suggests that gender equality may be a myth after all – it found that women today still want to 'marry up' – they want husbands who earn more than they do.
Catherine Hakim of the London School of Economics suggests men dominate the top positions because women simply do not want careers in business.
"Women's aspiration to marry up, if they can, to a man who is better-educated and higher-earning persists in most European countries,".
Catherine Hakim of the London School of Economics suggests men dominate the top positions because women simply do not want careers in business.
"Women's aspiration to marry up, if they can, to a man who is better-educated and higher-earning persists in most European countries,".
"Women thereby continue to use marriage as an alternative or supplement to their employment careers," she added.
"It is thus not surprising that wives generally earn less than their husbands, and that most couples rationally decide that it makes sense for her to take on the larger share of child care, and to use most or all the parental leave allowance," Hakim said.
Hakim also accused feminists of manufacturing 'political ammunition for a war that has ended'.
"Women today have more choices than men, including real choices between a focus on family work and/or paid employment. Despite this, many politicians and feminists appear disappointed with the slow pace of change in women's attainment of top jobs," Hakim said.
===================================================================
Zardari meets Obama in Washington
WASHINGTON: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived at the White House on Friday for talks with US President Barack Obama on the key but often uneasy anti-terrorism alliance between their countries.
Zardari flew to Washington for a memorial service later in the day for the late US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke who died last month at the age of 69.
A small pool of photographers was ushered into the Oval Office to record the meeting, but the two presidents made no substantive remarks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also in the room.
Zardari flew to Washington for a memorial service later in the day for the late US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke who died last month at the age of 69.
A small pool of photographers was ushered into the Oval Office to record the meeting, but the two presidents made no substantive remarks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also in the room.
The presidential-level talks follow Vice President Joe Biden's trip to Islamabad this week, which saw him deliver a bold message of support for Pakistan.
The vice president said that militancy in Pakistan was a threat to both countries, and he referred to the killing last week of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who was shot dead by his bodyguard over his outspoken opposition to strict blasphemy laws.
Obama and Zardari were to discuss "aspects of the US-Pakistan strategic partnership, including our mutual commitment to economic reform, support for democracy and good governance, and joint efforts to combat terrorism," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Thursday.
Contacts between high-level US and Pakistani officials frequently include discussions on the issue of extremist sanctuaries in lawless areas alongside the Pakistan-Afghan border.
A senior administration official said that Biden brought up the issue in his talks in Pakistan, the latest instance of US pressure for the Pakistani government to do more to tackle home grown extremism.
"What we've seen over the past year is a significant effort by Pakistan against a number of extremist groups," the official told reporters as Biden flew home to Washington on Thursday.
But the official noted that Obama said when he unveiled a review of Pakistan and Afghan strategy late last year that "it's still not enough, and we hope to see more."
But the official added that Biden had concluded that "increasingly there's an understanding and an awareness in Pakistan that at the end of the day, extremism is a problem that we both confront."
Holbrooke, a larger-than-life diplomat who helped broker peace in the Balkans a decade ago, was credited in Pakistan with drawing international attention to the humanitarian disaster of massive floods last year.
=============================================================
Aziz, Shahzad given in physical remand
RAWALPINDI: An Anti Terrorism Court, ending the judicial remand of arrested police officers Saud Aziz and Khurram Shahzad on Friday, handed them over to FIA in 8-day physical remand, Geo News reported.
According to Rawalpindi police, former CPO Saud Aziz and SP Rawal Town Khurram Shahzad, who had been arrested in Benazir Bhutto murder case, were brought before the Anti Terrorism Court from Adiala Prison in strict security.
According to Rawalpindi police, former CPO Saud Aziz and SP Rawal Town Khurram Shahzad, who had been arrested in Benazir Bhutto murder case, were brought before the Anti Terrorism Court from Adiala Prison in strict security.
ATC judge Rana Nisar Ahmed in his remarks to the defence counsel of Saud Aziz said that the court declared void the verdict of the trial court in connection with not giving the suspects in physical remand because the defence counsel had admitted that Saud Aziz had refused to hand over his cell phone to the investigation team on the day of Ms Bhutto’s murder.
=============================================================
RPP ordered to deposit money by Monday
LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the seizure of the passport of the owner of Techno Power Plant and set Monday deadline to return the money taken in advance with interest to start power generation, News reported.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the RPPs corruption case.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the RPPs corruption case.
While expressing displeasure over not returning the advance money of Rs 970 million by a rental plant namely Techno Power, Chief Justice ordered to seize the passport of the RPP owner besides handcuffing him.The CJ ordered the owner of Techno Power to submit the money today. But the date was extended till Monday when the representative of the plant informed the court the CEO was in Dubai and there is a holiday there.
The court adjourned the hearing till Monday.
=================================================================
Malik for blocking un-Islamic content on websites
NOWSHERA: Interior Minister, Rehman Malik on Thursday reiterated that government has no intention to bring any amendment in blasphemy laws, owing to its sensitivity, the people should not play up the issue after the government categorical stance on the subject.
The Interior Minister was talking to newsmen after expressing condolence and offered Fateha for the departed soul of former Governor KPK and PPP leader late Gen Naseerul Babar at Pirpai here at Pirpai village.
The Interior Minister was talking to newsmen after expressing condolence and offered Fateha for the departed soul of former Governor KPK and PPP leader late Gen Naseerul Babar at Pirpai here at Pirpai village.
The Interior Minister maintained that the matter would be taken up with noted Ulema and religious scholars of different schools of thoughts and office bearers of Wafaqul Madaris and the issue would be amicably resolved.
He said the government has no intention of repealing or amending the blasphemy law and ensuring the respect of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is part of our faith. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is the last messenger of Allah Almighty and we believe in Khatm-e-Nabbuwat.
The Interior Minister announced to block all un-Islamic materials put on various websites and urged people to inform government if they found any matter of blasphemy on the Internet. He said the government has highest regards for judiciary and its decisions are being implemented in latter and spirit.Eulogizing the sacrifices and contributions of former Governor KPK and Interior Minister Gen Nassesrullah Babar for the country and PPP, the Minister said that his death is a great loss for the country and people. He said that leaders like Gen Babar are born in centuries and was a brave leader. The vacuum created due to his death would hardly be overcome in near future.
Earlier, the Minister visited the residence of Gen Babar and condolence with his family over his sad demise.He remained there for sometime and offered Fateha for the departed soul.Later, he visited to Gen Babar grave and laid floral wreath on behalf of resident Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani and Interior Ministry and offered Fateha. Tough security arrangements were made on this occasion.
