Bannu twin blasts toll climbs to 15; curfew imposed

The death toll in Bannu twin blasts has mounted to 15 including 9 policemen while over 30 police personnel have been injured Thursday, police source said.

A blast ripped through Bannu police line 2, one kilometer from Bannu central market that injured several policemen, police said.

The second blast occurred at the same site where rescue and relief activities were underway. It killed 15 people including 9 police personnel and injured over 30 others including DPO Bannu Iqbal Marwat.

DMS District Headquarters Hospital Bannu told Geo News that 5 bodies were brought to the facility out of which 9 were clad in police uniform. Other bodies also appear to be those of policemen in civvies, he added.

Dr. Hafeez said the condition of DPO Bannu is in critical condition and that medical treatment is being provided to him.

Curfew has been imposed in Bannu following the deadly blasts.

NUML Registrar Brigadier (retd.) Obaidullah Ranjha resigns

Brigadier (retd.) Obaidullah Ranjha, the Registrar of National University of Modern Languages, has stepped down here on Wednesday.

Brig Ranjha tendered his resignation to the university’s Rector Prof Aziz Ahmed, who accepted it in the best interest of the university.

Earlier in the day, the NUML Registrar appeared before the four-member inquiry committee and apprised the committee of details about thrashing of Professor Tahir Malik.

He was accused of thrashing and assaulting Professor Tahir Malik. The move angered the students and other professors, who staged demonstrations and demanded his ouster from the varsity

Dr. Aafia guilty of murder attempt

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has been proven guilty by American court and all the allegations on Aafia have been proved.
The federal district court in New York under the Judge Richard Berman and 11 other members of the jury conducted the hearing on the case for twelve days. Eight woman were members of the jury.
The biggest allegation against her was attempting to murder US agents with an army rifle and shot at the US agents while she was detained for questioning in Afghanistan. None of the Americans was injured but Aafia, was shot. Nine witnesses were presented to the jury of whom six were present in the room at the time of shooting. American army captain Schneider and Afghan national police officer Bahsir were present during the case.
A lawyer fighting her case said that Aafia would appeal for a review of the verdict since the decision was unfair. He also said that there was no allegation on Aafia being linked to any act of terrorism however the jury tried to establish a connection between Aafia and terrorist organization.
Aafia reacted violently to the verdict and said that the American system of justice is not fair. She said that the decision has been taken by Israel.

Emotions will not help the case, says Dr. Aslam
Speaking to Dunya News American journalist Dr Aslam Abdullah said that Dr Aafia’s supporter should control their emotions. Emotions will not help the case. Pakistan government will not take any action. The government has sold the country and it is due to the criminal negligence of the government that today Pakistan is confronting so many challenges.
Aslam also said that he has expectations from Human right groups. However the human rights groups cannot influence on the decision but can contribute positively towards the review of the case. Support for terrorism by some groups in Pakistan has been a factor that Aafia has been proven guilty.
Aslam aslo pointed that “No one spoke clearly on Aafia and sketchy details were presented regarding her family and her education”.
Aslam said the Pakistani government will not do anything to help in the review of the case. He said that he cannot make any comments on how to prove Aafia’s innocence since he is not a lawyer or a politician.

We will not ask for mercy from Non Muslims, says Fauzia Siddiqui
Dr Fauzia siddiqui said to the media that “We are agreeing with the will of the Allah”. “Allah wanted to show to the world that American justice system is weak and corrupt”. She said that “This is the beginning of the end for America”. Fauzia said that Government lawyer did not contacted her since the verdict has been announced. She said that “We prayed to Allah and thanked him.”
Answering to a question she said that “I would have been satisfied by the government efforts if Aafia would have been here standing next to me since she is not here so I am not satisfied with the government.” She also said that we continue our fight. Our morale is high. Dr. Fauzia was refered to several Quran verses.

I am thankful to the media, says Aafia’s mother
Aafia mother was smiling. She said that she is very happy and proud on the role of the media, she is also happy that her daughter has been chosen to slap on face of America. She claimed that “Today would mark the beginning of American downfall”. Aafia’s requested all to stay calm and said not to protest on the roads and appealed not to cause any damage to public or private property. Although the world may assume that we would be in a somber mood but I have attained new strength after this decision.
She repeatedly said that “Write my words that the decline of America starts today”. I knew the decision in advance. She also said that “If the government would have acted responsibly then we would have not seen this day.”
Aafia’s mother also said that “I am thankful to the entire nation.” “I have trained Aafia that she would never lose hope or faith”. Aafia will never bow to the non Muslim demands. She accused Hussain Hakkani of making fake claims on Aafia’s return. She said that Allah would take revenge from Shah Mahmood. She also said that “We would not ask for mercy from non Muslims”.

Failure of foreign policy to be blamed, says Talha Mahmood
Senator Talha Mahmood said that only foreign policy is to be blamed. He said that “I do not think its not a good message from America. Demands of justice have not been full filled. Highest form delegations should be sent to USA and present a strict stance to the US government. He said that US and NATO image would not improve. Talha also said that delegations have been formed in the past as well but there were no results. The case has not been politicized entirely but the main flaw was in handling the case. All witnesses have been favoring Aafia but the decision was pre decided. Trial was just a fake show. The world has witnessed the poor American justice. Hakkani did not take up the issue seriously and I cannot comment as to what he did. Pak has made big sacrifices and no one has given these sacrifices. The nation would not accept this gift of the America.

302 Pak students not paid stipend in China since April

PAKISTANI students, studying in China under the Cultural Exchange Scholarship Programme of the federal government, are finding themselves stranded as they have not been receiving their monthly stipend for almost nine months.

At present, over 300 Pakistani students are enrolled in various Chinese universities and institutes of higher education for masters and doctoral degrees in various fields, including engineering, sciences, medicine and social sciences.

In an email to this correspondent, some students mentioned plight of the Pakistani students, saying the delay in monthly stipend was creating problems for them. The students said they were scrutinised from across the country through a testing process to get the cultural Exchange Scholarship?for higher studies and they were also entitled to get the per month stipend of US $200 for masters and US $300 for doctoral programmes. They said the monthly stipend was stopped without any intimation from April 2009 and despite repeated attempts, they were unable to have a clear picture of the whole situation.

But for the last intake, September 2009 onwards, it was announced that we were entitled to get US $ 300 and US $ 400 per month according the revised project,?they said, adding: However, the announcement has been materialized.? The students said that despite repeated attempts, they never received a satisfactory answer from the Ministry of Education, adding people at Pakistani Embassy in China were so cooperative?that they never bothered to receive the phone calls and by chance when they receive they utter the same words which we anticipate before calling them.?

The, Pakistani students envy other students of different countries who get the stipends from their respective countries smoothly and on time,?commented Mudassar Shah, a student of Journalism and Information Communication at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Khalid Khan, a PhD candidate at the Chemistry Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, and Zahoor Ahmed from the Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, said most of the students belonged to middle class families and many of them were even married. He cannot ask for our monthly spending from our families back in our country,?they said, adding: Although our prime duty is research but most of the time we have to cope with financial matters that deal with our daily food and clothing.?

It may be astonishing for you to know that few of us even take one time meal in a day to survive the life,?they added.

Particularly during winter, China experiences the worst cold and temperature goes -10, so we think hundreds of times before buying warm clothes to protect ourselves,?commented Mudassar Shah.

He said it was compulsory for doctoral degree candidates to publish or present their scientific research work in esteemed and scholarly conferences and journals but unfortunately, the financial constraints did not allow him and his fellows to fulfill the basic requirements of the doctoral degree.

The Pakistani students have also appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take notice of the situation and provide them relief.

Talking to The News, Muzaffar Aman Zia, Deputy Education Advisor from the Ministry of Education, said the delay was partly because of approval process of the revised project under which the amount of stipend had been increased. He said the ministry was trying hard to get the required funds released, adding that the ministry had to receive funds for this particular project from the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He said the last batch, sent to China, was informed that they might face delay in connection with the stipend. He, however, said the stipend problem had started from July 2009, adding that a total of 302 Pakistani students were enrolled in institutes of China at present.

When contacted, HEC Executive Director Dr Sohail H Naqvi said the revision of the project took time owing to which the students had to face the delay. He said so far the HEC had received only 30 percent of the development funds, adding as soon as the funds were released the students studying on scholarships abroad would be the priority.

By Khalid Khattak
Received via email

Free Sugar in Pakistan

Mammoth Rs 6.10/ltr increase in POL prices surfaced

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has made announcement the rise in Petroleum Product (POL) prices by Rs6.10 a litre to Rs71.21 from Rs65.11 per litre, Geo News reported Sunday.

According to sources, the price of High Speed Diesel has risen to Rs71.89, Light Diesel oil to Rs61.07, HOBC to Rs86.84 and Kerosene oil to Rs64.60 per litre.

The new price of HOBS has soured to Rs86.84, meanwhile, shortly following the announcement rise in petrol product prices, the sale of POL products at most petrol pumps all across country has come to halt, sources revealed.

Pakistan’s Cricket dream shattered by Aussies in U19 World Cup final

Pakistan colts in a hard-fought final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World
Cup were beaten by 25 runs against Australia boys with 20 balls
remaining here on Saturday.

Both teams were running to win the title for the third time in the history of Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Chasing
a moderate target of 208 runs, Pakistan batsmen batted well against sea
winds and accurate Aussie bowlers but could make182 runs in 46.4 overs.

Captain Azeem Ghumman was the top-scorer with 41. He batted with calm and caution hitting only one four in 90 balls.

However,
Hammad Azam, the most prolific scorer who has been unbeaten throughout
the tournament could not maintain his record and was dismissed for a
nought, caught behind by Triffitt off Hazlewood. His early ouster made
a panic in the Pakistan team’s dressing room.

Earlier, Pakistan winning the toss decided to send Kangaroos first and kept their grip tight over the match.

Sarmad
Bhatti grabbed three wickets and Fayyaz Butt claimed two as the Aussies
were 207-9 in 50 overs in the final counter of tournament.

Though
Pakistani pacers successfully claiming wickets on regular intervals but
they failed in keeping run rate down while the Aussies persistently
collected ones, twos, three and certain times boundaries and out of the
park.

The leading run scorers from Australian side were JS Floros (35), TJ Armstrong (37) and KW Richardson (44).

Chief secretary’s car impounded five days after accident

Punjab Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood’s car, which was involved in the accident which caused the death of a retired colonel, was taken into police custody for investigations on Thursday, five days after the incident took place. Col (r) Muhammad Ikram died in hospital after a collision with the chief secretary’s car in the Cantt area on January 23. Ikram was severely injured and was taken to the Combined Military Hospital, where he died shortly after being admitted. The Punjab Services Department on Thursday handed the vehicle over to Sarwar Road police, after the media highlighted the fact that the car had not been impounded for investigation despite the passage of five days via Daily Times

University of Punjab Students Protest Against Administration

Punjab University students in Lahore blocked the both side of the road along the canal while protesting against the Punjab University administration over increasing incidents of thefts. So far 136 motorcycles have been reportedly stolen from the campus in one year. The blockade of Canal Road from campus side by the protesters played havoc with the traffic, causing a traffic mess on Canal Road, Johar Town, Faisal Town, Shah Di Khoi and Thokar Niaz Baig.

Dr Aafia testifies at US trail

NEW YORK: Dr Aafis Siddiqui has recorded her statement before a US court for the first time on Thursday.

According to sources, Dr Aafia said she was tortured in a secret jail, and her hands were being tightened with bed.

“I could not sleep the whole night due to the presence of FBI agents in the room, who never allowed me to sleep,” she added.

Aafia said she never met with any Pakistani national since her detention.

Speaking to the judge she said, “I consider you a good human being.”

France asks Britain, Switzerland for information on Zardari

PARIS: A French judge probing a bomb attack that killed 11 French engineers has asked Britain and Switzerlandto provide whatever information they have on allegations of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, legal sources here said Friday.

Judge Marc Trevidic made the request to help him advance his probe into claims the 11 were killed in May 2002 by Pakistani agents taking revenge after a new French government cancelled illegal commissions on an arms deal.

Last month families of victims filed suit in Paris against supporters of former French presidential candidateEdouard Balladur, who was prime minister at the time, alleging they benefited from the deal.

In 1995, newly elected president Jacques Chirac cancelled the pay-offs, which he believed had funded his rival’s campaign, angering Pakistaniofficers awaiting their share of the graft, according to a report commissioned by France’s state naval construction firm and leaked last June.

The families believe they were deceived by the French state and top ranking French and Pakistani political leaders, and that their loved ones were exposed and killed as a result of a sordid political funding scandal.

One leaked French report on the affair said that the commissions paid to Pakistani figures were ordered by Zardari, the widower of the assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

In all, 14 people were killed on May 8, 2002, when a suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying French naval engineers from their Karachi hotel to where they were working on the submarines sold to Pakistan in the suspect deal.

At first, officials in both countries blamed Islamic radicals at war with the West for carrying out the attack, but French counter-terrorism officers have begun privately to accuse Pakistani spies of ordering it.

Petition filed for protection of Asif Ali Zardari

A petition has been filed in Lahore Registry of Supreme Court requesting constitutional indemnity to the presidential office.

Petitioner Barrister Zafarullah of Watan Party in his petition stated that the judiciary could not act against the president due to the constitutional protection to the office.

The petitioner argues that under Article 242 of the constitution the president could not be summoned to any court of the law as he is the head of the state.

Awaz-e-Dost, American Propaganda Through SMS and Spy Mission

USA representative Richard Halbrook have arranged a meeting with PTA, and all other telecom operators of Pakistan to launch a Propaganda Through SMS namely Awaz-e-Dost . Nusrat Javed and Mustaq Minhas in their show Bolta Pakistan have unfolded some hidden facts about this meeting and Propaganda Through SMS called Awaz-e-Dost. As per some media representative this service will also spy on your calls and your geographical location.

Kaira puts a spin on report 24 hours after its denial

By Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: The political and legal circles are
deeply confused and worried about the latest PPP government spin on a
baseless report about a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz
Sharif and Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The
government statement was made by Information Minister Qamar Zaman
Kaira, despite the fact that not only the newspaper which had first
published the meeting story, apologised and fully retracted its report
but the Punjab government also denied it totally.

Yet Mr Kaira
attacked the Chief Justice, which immediately resulted in a sharp and
strong rejoinder by the Supreme Court spokesman who said those trying
to politicise this baseless issue would be taken to task.

Analysts
and observers are trying to figure out what the motive of Information
Minister Kaira was to ignore the total apology, denials and retraction
of the said report full 24 hours before he made the comments on the
imaginary meeting.

Talking to the media outside the Parliament
building, Kaira had stated that the CJP should himself take notice of
his meeting with the Punjab chief minister. Either totally ignorant of
the denials or deliberately raising the issue, Kaira persisted with his
comments as if he believed that Shahbaz Sharif did meet CJ Chaudhry.

Immaturely
behaving like a street boy instead of a federal minister, he added that
the detailed judgment on the NRO was still awaited that the news of
Chief Justice’s meeting with Shahbaz Sharif had appeared, while no
clarification has been made in this regard.

Supreme Court’s
spokesman immediately reacted with a strongly worded denial terming
Kaira’s outburst needless and warning that strict action would be taken
against those who were debating and making statements on a baseless
report.

The spokesman said that English daily The Nation had not
only offered apology but also published a clarification in this regard.
The paper also asked its reporter to give explanation on the issue, the
statement said. The spokesman further said that some elements were
debating this report to achieve their vested interests.

“The
report is baseless and uncalled for and is an attempt to affect the
reputation of the institution,” it said, adding, “Those issuing any
statement in this regard will have to face serious consequences.”The
spokesman said that if anyone had any authentic information about the
meeting, he could present to the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

When
The News correspondent Ahmad Noorani talked to Kaira late in the
evening to get his views over what he had said early in the day, the
information minister was not willing to offer any comments or offer an
apology.

Kaira was repeatedly told about the front-page apology
of the newspaper as well as the Punjab government categorical denial
but still he said that he did not want to discuss the issue.

Analysts
were left with the feelings that Kaira’s utterances were part of the
post-NRO government campaign against the superior judiciary and the
Chief Justice of Pakistan. This impression was strengthened when some
mediapersons were also encouraged to file speculative stories on the
conjectured meeting between the CJP and the Punjab CM.

Electricity Power outages raging across country

The ongoing electricity shortfall has mounted to 4,200 megawatt while unannounced long-hour power cuts have multiplied miseries of already suffering domestic and industrial consumers, Geo news said.

Though several sky-high claims continued coming to surface from officials of PEPCO, forecasting the elimination of electricity load shedding from Pakistan by the end of 2009 but nonetheless, not sigh of relief has come into sight as yet.

All the major and minor cities across Pakistan including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, have been facing the abject electric shortage while small and big cities are countering with up to 18-hour-longelectricity load shedding, consumers said.

PEPCO officials claimed to have overcome the rising power impasse as early as in a few days to come particularly after the commencement of hydel power generation.

Wasim advises PCB to introduce new cricketers

KOLKATA: Former captain Wasim Akram severely criticizing Pakistani cricketers playing in Australia, has advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give chance to new cricketers. Wasim Akram, who is present in India for coaching of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), said that senior players are the cause of chaos in the Pakistan team and they are scoring less runs. Therefore, they should be replaced by such young players who by learning in a year may be able to serve the country for the next two decades. Wasim understands that Test cricket is the only game of cricket and it is like a long race for which every team requires special talent, mental fitness and spirit. Presently, Pakistan cricket team lack all these qualities. Wasim Akram termed Mohammad Yousuf an inexperienced captain but added that he has the potential of looking a better captain in coming days.

Liyari Committee not linked with PPP: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik said the government will take action against anyone who challenges the writ of the government, Geo News reported Tuesday. Addressing National Assembly, he said the Interior Ministry is performing its duties in accordance with the Law. No Blackwater is operational in Pakistan and no visa has been issued in this connection, he maintained adding no diplomat would be allowed to carry out any illegal and clandestine activities in the country. He continued to say there are at least 411 US nationals residing in various sectors of the federal capital, of them, 289 are diplomats with 118 vehicles in their use. A group named Aman Committee based in Liyari also takes extortion money, the federal minister said the Committee has nothing to do with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He said the Liyari Aman Committee is working since the time of Rehman Dacoit. Earlier talking to journalists outside the Parliament, he said the law and order situation in Karachi has been brought under control, as no untoward incident occurred during the last 48 hours, adding issue in Karachi is not a political one; nor is it factional. The Interior Minister said the surgical operations have been ordered in specific areas of the provincial capital. On query regarding his differences with PPP MNAs over government measures, he said these MNAs have right to protest; but, he will keep on performing his duties as interior minister. He also vowed to provide every support to the Sindh government at all cost, which it wants.

SBP report expects inflation by 12 pc in first quarterly

ISLAMABAD: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said the tax revenues will stand low owing to the ongoing war against terrorism. The central bank issued its report for the first quarterly, which anticipated that inflation rate will remain between 10 and 12 percent. However, at the time of budget 2009-10, the Government was expecting that inflation would come down to a single digit at the end of the year and it pursued a tight monetary policy throughout the year. However the Government’s expectations were not met due to rising prices of food items, which accelerated the inflation. Inflation declined from a record high level of 25.3 percent in August 2008 to a 22-month low in October 2009 of 8.87 percent. However due to soaring oil prices and increase in electricity tariff during the last couple of months, inflation once again entered into double digits and went up to 10.51 percent in November and 10.52 percent in December 2009. Inflation recorded at 10.52 percent in the last month (December) of previous year as against of 23.34 percent of December 2008. Inflation would further go up in the current month (January) and in the coming months, as the Government has increased the power tariff (gas and electricity prices) with the start of New Year 2010. The prices of electricity would be further enhanced from March, which would further accelerate the inflation so it might be feared that inflation would remain in double digits in the second half (Jan-July) of the financial year 2009-10. The report also said the rate of economic growth is expected to stay at 3.3 percent during the current fiscal year; while, the foreign remittances are expected to remain between $7.80 billion to $8.80 billion. The first quarterly reports said the export volume will remain between $18.50 billion $19 billion; while the volume of imports is expected to remain between $30.50 billion and $31 billion during the first quarter. The fiscal deficit account is expected to remain between 4.7 and 5.2 percent and the current account deficit will range between 3.7 and 4.7 percent. The Agricultural and industrial sectors have been expected to show recovery; however, the biggest challenge would be to improve tax and GDP rate.

Power crisis intensifies across country

LAHORE: No sigh of relief for people of Pakistan as the ongoing power impasse has intensified even further, surging the 11 to 18 hours-long laodshedding in many parts of state located in four provinces with no exception whatsoever including the federal capital Islamabad, Geo news reported. According to details, most of the small factories have been shut down due to unavailability of electricity and low gas pressure. The thermal powerhouses have testified abject cut in electricity generation after decline in hydel generation, worsening the already torturing electricity shortfall to 4000 megawatt per day, knowledgeable sources said. PEPCO officials were noticed to have claimed generation of 9000 megawatt of electricity through making operational all Independent Power Producers (IPPs) but merely around 7500 megawatt electricity could be generated through them thus far whereas the overall demand ligers around 11,500 megawatt, sources further said. Consumers have lodged many complaints against unannounced long hours power cuts, along voicing serious questions of sky-high claims made by federal water and power minister which stated that government would overcome power outages by the end of 2009.

China tests anti-missile defense system

BEIJING: Amid rising tension between Beijing and Washington over the US weapons delivery to Taiwan, China test fires a system for intercepting missiles. A successful test report of "ground-based midcourse missile interception technology" was released on Monday by the official news agency. "The test is defensive in nature and is not targeted at any country," it said, adding that the test was conducted within Chinese territory and achieved the expected objective. The report follows repeated complaints in recent days by Beijing over the US-Taiwan weapons deals. Though, China split with Taiwan amid civil war in 1949, it continues to regard Taiwan as part of its territory. In recent weeks, the US awarded a 969-million-dollar contract to Lockheed Martin for the provision of 263 PAC-3 air defense missiles to Taiwan. A USD1.1 billion contract was also awarded to Raytheon Co. for production of the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System for Taiwan. The sale rounds out a USD 6.5 billion arms package approved under then US President George W. Bush in late 2008. China has reiterated objection to the US arms sales to Taiwan, calling it interference in Beijing's internal affairs that could undermine relations with Washington.