PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has vowed that killers of Benazir Bhutto would soon be exposed with the help of the workers of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
Addressing a public meeting held in connection with 43rd Foundation Day of the PPP here at Governor's House on Tuesday, the prime minister said that there were some procedural requirements and the government was following them.
He said that the murders of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto would be brought to justice.
"The procedural requirements into the case would be completed to award punishment to the killers," he announced amidst slogans of demands for the arrest of the killers of Benazir Bhutto.
Paying tributes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, he said that she was not only the leader of Pakistan, but of the whole world. He directed the Federal Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik for taking measures in this regard to bring the accused to justice immediately.
The PM was flanked by federal ministers Syed Naveed Qamar, Rehman Malik, Najmuddin Khan, Arbab Muhammad Alamgir Khan, Lal Muhammad Khan and Advisor to Prime Minister, Asma Alamgir on the occasion.
KARACHI: At least eleven people were killed when a Russian-made cargo plane crashed in a fireball seconds after taking off from Karachi on Sunday.
The death toll was expected to rise, with an unknown number of labourers feared killed when the Ilyushin IL-76, bound for the Sudanese capital Khartoum, slammed into buildings in the city.
"All eight people on board have died, we fear that some labourers on the ground have also been killed," CAA spokesman said. "We do not know the exact number of those killed on ground," he added.
Bodies of three labourers working on the construction site have also been recovered from the debris taking the toll to eleven, rescue authorities said.
Authorities said they had brought the fire under control but rescue workers were still searching for bodies.
"Recovered bodies are badly mutilated and beyond recognition," he said.
The plane slammed into buildings under construction in the Dalmia neighbourhood.
"Rescue workers are still searching whether there are any other bodies or injured people in the debris," a police official said.
It was the third plane accident in four months in Pakistan, a country of 170 million people where inter-city travel is most efficient by air, and the second aircraft to crash after take off from Karachi in just four weeks.
The CAA spokesman said that the jet took off from Karachi at 1:45 am (20:45 GMT Saturday) and crashed just one and a half minutes later.
Witnesses spoke of their horror at seeing a fireball racing through the night sky.
"I saw a fireball plummeting to ground," a milk seller said. He had been going home on his motorbike after closing his shop.
"It was so huge and quick. I was terrified."
"I couldn't see what it was. I sped up to save my life and after a few seconds I heard a deafening explosion, but thanks to Allah my life was saved and I was not injured."
The crash sparked fires in four or five construction sites, but officials said the number of casualties would have been far higher if the plane had struck nearby residential buildings.
Residents in nearby buildings spent the night with relatives, he added.
The US-manufactured Beech 1900C aircraft operated by local company was carrying staff from an Italian oil company to an oil field in the southern province of Sindh.
On July 28, an Airbus 321 passenger jet operated by Airblue crashed into hills near Islamabad while coming in to land after a flight from Karachi, killing 152 people on board.
QUETTA: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif urged all and sundry to play their role for country’s existence and national solidarity, remarking no single party could cope with issues and challenges facing the country wading through a wretched state.
Addressing the party’s provincial Organizing Committee here, Nawaz Sharif vowed the party will expel any of its members if found to be associate or supporter of Former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf.
Commenting on province’s condition, Sharif said the circumstances here are critical, as target killing spree against Baloch people is in progress; adding the same spurs his concerns.
The PML-N chief added Balochistan and people inhabiting it are very dear to him and there is an urgent need to uproot the permeating sense of deprivation here.
He demanded the government to lay bare the law under which Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was murdered in Balochistan.
Nawaz urged party members to put an end to mutual differences and strengthen the part in the province.
‘I cherish Sardar Sanaullaah Zahri as much as Sardar Yaqub Nasir as they all are my fellows.’
On complaints from party workers about party set-up, Sharif extended reassurances to them, saying the organizational structure countrywide including Balochistan is not constant, as it would be overhauled in a couple of months.
‘We should rise above being Punjab, Pashtun, Baloch, Sindhi and Saraiki affiliations and call ourselves Pakistani,’ he added.
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday approved review report of Committee on Finance and Revenue on Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) amid massive protest from the opposition and some of PPP allies.
Committee on Finance and Revenue presented its review report on RGST amid massive uproar in the house. The report was presented by Senator Ahmed Ali. A massive uproar was witnessed in the upper house over the bill.
Opposition as well as the coalition partners of the government, MQM, JUI-F opposed the RGST and demonstrated against it. Awami National Party (ANP) supported PPP government over the bill.
At the beginning of the session, government allies MQM and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) along with opposition PML-Q presented their proposals and a motion rejecting the RGST.
PML-Q staged walk out against the bill.
PML-N and Jamaat-e-Islami also opposed the bill and raised slogans against it.
Senator Raza Rabbani raised his reservations on the bill, saying the report presented by the committee is inappropriate.
Chairman Farooq H Naek refused voting over the bill presented against RGST.
Islamabad—President Asif Ali Zardari and Quaid Muslim league Nawaz Sharif agreed on working together for strengthening democracy in the country.
As per details President Asif Ali Zardari calls Nawaz Sharif on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to felicitate good wishes and condole him on the passing of his uncle Miraj Din and to inquire about the health of Kalsoom Nawaz.
While discussing various issues they both agreed on strengthening democracy in the country . According to sources PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif told Zardari that his party is in the favour of strong democracy and shall not be a part of any non democratic or unconstitutional step.
President Zardari assured Nawaz for seriously considering the suggestions written to him in a letter by Nawaz Sharif suggesting to give relief to the people and said immediate steps will be taken on this regard.—Online
KARACHI: Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has started afresh the spell of power load shedding in the city from today after Eid holidays..
According to the KESC spokesman, power outages will be commenced from today in all commercial and residential areas of the cosmopolitan.
The areas noted for power stealth, will have to suffer 4.5-hour load shedding and three-hour load shedding will be carried out in areas with less reported power thefts.
According to the KESC spokesman, industrial areas will not afflicted with power outages. According to sources, the city’s aggregate power demand stands at 1950 Megawatts with supply only 1700MWs.
LONDON: Pakistani wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider, who disappeared from Dubai on Monday, had appeared in a hotel at Heathrow airport later on the day.
Talking to Geo News, Zulqarnain said he could not compromise dignity of his dear motherland so he decided to leave the national cricket team.
He said that he was receiving life threats in response to his match-winning performance in fourth ODI against South Africa and according to him, someone threatened him to fix 5th ODI through threatening SMS on his cell number.
He, however, ruled out blaming any player being behind the threats, responding to a question that if he might want to name any player of the team.
“I was forced to starving after demise of my mother so I can again face such tough situation,” he revealed.
Hero of the fourth ODI against South Africa in Dubai, Zulqarnain Haider said, he believed in Allah, adding that Pakistan was his dear motherland and he could never sell out her dignity.
He dismissed revealing exact location of his whereabouts, saying: “I can assure you that I am safe and sound, not arrested but cannot tell where I am hiding for sake of protection of my life.”
Immigration officials in UK proved kind to me and proposed me to hire services of a counselor but I have yet to reach a decision, he said.
However, he was short of money to take legal advice or hire services of a lawyer, according to him. He was not sure of his future.
He looked worried about his family, saying that his family too received threats so he wanted his family to join him in London soon.
Zulqarnain also appealed to government for provision of protection to his family back in Pakistan.
Washington and Delhi's relationship will be one of the century's defining partnerships, President Barack Obama and Indian PM Manmohan Singh have said.
On a visit to Delhi, Mr Obama said India was a world power, and both countries would work together to promote stability and prosperity.
In a speech to parliament later, he said he would address Delhi's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
The US president is on a 10-day Asian tour designed to boost US exports.
He is also due to visit Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.
We have not only an opportunity, but a responsibility to lead”
End QuoteBarack ObamaUS President
President Obama told Monday's news conference the two leaders had been discussing the situation in East Asia, which many believe is essentially a focus on China.
Mr Singh said Washington and Delhi had decided to "accelerate the deepening of ties to work as equal partners in a strategic relationship".
He said he and Mr Obama had agreed protectionism was detrimental for both countries, and that India was not in the business of stealing American jobs.
Both sides would expand co-operation on space, civil, nuclear and defence matters, he added.
Mr Obama announced an initiative between both sides to improve security at airports, ports and borders.
Taking questions from journalists, Mr Obama stopped short of committing the US to intervene in India's long-standing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir.
Washington "cannot impose a solution to these problems" in the Muslim-majority Himalayan border region, he said. 'Terror-induced coercion' Mr Singh said India was committed to resolving all problems with Pakistan, but Islamabad should move away from "terror-induced coercion".
Manmohan Singh announces agreement on a vision of a world without nuclear arms
The US leader's three-day visit to India is being viewed by many in Pakistan as a snub to the Islamic republic.
Summing up their ties, Mr Obama said: "As the world's two largest democracies, as large and growing free market economies, as diverse, multi-ethnic societies with strong traditions of pluralism and tolerance, we have not only an opportunity, but also a responsibility to lead.
"And that's why I believe that the relationship between the United States and India will, in fact, be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st Century."
Mr Singh said the two countries' relationship would be "defining and indispensable" for the coming decades.
On his third and final day in India, Mr Obama received a ceremonial welcome at the Indian president's palace, and laid a wreath at a memorial to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
At the weekend, he visited the scene of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai and criticised the pace of Pakistan's fight against militants within its borders.
He also announced $10bn (£6.2bn) in new trade deals with India.
Trade between India and the US was worth about $40bn in 2008 - still significantly less than US trade with other partners like China and Europe.
DUBAI: Pakistani cricket team wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider went missing from hotel room in Dubai this morning, as the situation takes a surprise turn.
The wicketkeeper Haider is missing from his hotel room since 6am this morning.
Sources said he was last seen at 630am while leaving his room. A Source said Shahid Aslam saw the wicketkeeper leaving his room at around 6am; he intercepted Haider, who told he is leaving to receive his relatives and would be back after some time. However, he was not seen around again.
However, in a new twist to the entire episode is a new message received on the mobile phone of wicketkeeper’ friend and Geo News corresponded Sohail Imran at around 1515am. The sms tells that Zulqarnain was leaving for England and urged security for his family in view of life-threatening messages.
The PCB’s Media Manager Nadeem Sarwar told Geo News that Zulqarnain had already taken his passport from the management on certain pretext last night.
The wicketkeeper said in his Facebook post he was leaving cricket as someone gave him bad message on losing in last match.
The wicketkeeper words are: ‘leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.’
Also, a message from Zulqarnain’s mobile received on cellphone of Sohail Imran, said he is leaving the cricket as someone is giving him murder threats.
The SMS received on Sohail Imran’s mobile phone said, ‘Match haar jao’ (Lose match.)
In his second MSM to Sohail Imran, the cricketer said he is leaving for England.
Talking to Geo News, Zulqarnain’s brother Aqil Haider said his brother talked to the family last night, urging all to pray to Allah for his brother.
Team management announced three changes in the squad for today’s match. Zulqarnain Haider’s name was previously on the squad for today’s match. Muhammed Yousuf, who flew shortly to Dubai, has been included in the squad for strengthening batting line. Omar Akmal will play as wicketkeeper in today’s match. Imran Farhat and Asad Shafeeque have been excluded.
ISLAMABAD: Zulhaj moon has been sighted, therefore, Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated with religious fervour across the country on November 17 (Wednesday).
Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman made the announcement of Zulhaj moon sighting while talking to media men at the conclusion of the committee’s meeting held here on Sunday.
The committee’s meeting was attended by noted Ulema as well as religious scholars.
Zonal Ruet-e-Hillah Committees’ meetings were also held in the capitals of four provinces.
KARACHI: A privately-owned aircraft carrying 20 oil company officials crashed in suburb of Karachi on Friday and a military spokesman said there were no survivors.
"The plane has been totally gutted and there are no survivors," lieutenant Colonel Noor Alam who supervised rescue operation told reporters.
The plane was believed to be carrying about 20 people, mostly Pakistanis, he said, adding that bodies have not yet been identified.
It was not immediately clear if there were any foreigners on board, he said.
So far, 12 bodies, gutted completely and unable to be identified, have been recovered and efforts to recover the remaining are underway, Noor Alam said.
Reports from CAA authorities confirmed that at least 20 people were on board who have been feared dead as the wreckage caught fire after crash. Accident took place at 7:15am.
Rescue teams, police, airport security force, ambulances arrived on the accident site and kicked off rescue and relief operations. Plane crashes away from residential area.
Thick smoke was seen emitting from plane while firefighters tried hard to bring fast raging flames under control.
The airplane was of a private company and had been chartered by a US company working on an oil field in Karachi. Two crewmembers and a technician were also on plane.
The crash took place due to engine failure as the pilot tried to contact control tower complaining there was flaw in one engine of plane, reports said.
CAA official Pervez George said the aircraft was carrying company employees to an oil field at Bhit Shah in the southern province of Sindh, of which Karachi is the capital.
"It was a small plane and there were about 20 people on board. It was a privately-owned aircraft belonging to an oil company," George told .
"Soon after they left, they contacted the airport control tower and said there was a problem in one of the engines. The plane was directed to return and soon after it crashed," he said.
ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly said that he never demanded mid-term polls but has been termed an enemy of the country, Geo News reported.
He noted that the prime minister will lose the right to be in the office if he loses the majority.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said the Pakistan Peoples Party has rendered numerous sacrifices and would protect the democratic process at all costs.Talking to a group of Ministers and MNAs here at his Chamber in the Parliament House, the Prime Minister said certain forces in the Parliament had wishful thinking to derail the democratic process in the country and to hold mid-term elections.The Prime Minister strongly rejected dissolution of the assembly and said democracy was the only solution to the problems facing Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani said government policies were formed in the perspective of the prevailing circumstances and changed according to new requirements and ground realities. He said Parliament was the right forum to discuss problems of the people. Gilani said government was fully aware of the problems of masses and said the devastating floods have affected the growth rate of economy. He said despite all financial constraints, government was determined to utilize all resources to mitigate the sufferings of the people, he added. The Parliamentarians lauded the leadership of Prime Minister, and for promoting democratic norms in the Parliament. They also apprised the Prime Minister of the development schemes in their respective constituencies. Minister for Textile Rana Farooq, Minister for Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Minister of State for Communication Imtiaz Safdar Baloch, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gul, MNAs - Nafeesa Shah, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Saffar Leghari, Sher Mohammad Baloch, Tariq Tarrar, Abdul Qayyum Joti, and MPA Anwer Saifullah attended the meeting.
ISLAMABAD - Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Sunday announced a hefty raise in petroleum prices for the month of November and notification in this regard has been issued.
According to Syed Jawad Naseem, Spokesman for OGRA, an increase of Rs 5.97 per litre was made in petrol rate and the new price will be Rs 72.96 per litre. A raise of Rs 4.5 per litre was announced in the diesel (HSD) price and the new rate is Rs 78.33 per litre.
New price of high octane blending component (HOBC) will be Rs 86.67 with an increase of Rs 7.11 per litre and the new price for kerosene oil will be Rs 70.95 after a hike of Rs 5.15 per litre. New price of light diesel oil (LDO) will be Rs 66.61 with subsequent climb of Rs 4.27 per litre. Similarly, an increase of Rs 4.61 was made in JP-1 (local) rate and new price will be Rs 60.26 and prices of JP-4 will be Rs 57.45 per litre with an increase of Rs 5.29 per litre. Further, price of JP-8 will be Rs 59.96 of per litre with an increase of Rs 4.61 per litre.
