Briefs...

No progress in recent Indo-Pak talks: Sartaj
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday said the Chinese president would visit Pakistan very soon, adding that dates for the visit were being finalised through diplomatic channels.Talking to newsmen here, he said efforts were being made that dates for the visit of Chinese President would be finalised soon.About the visit of Indian Minister for External Affairs to Pakistan, the adviser said there was no serious progress in these talks but they could be termed as the start of future talks between the two countries.

Nisar orders Nadra to call back staff posted abroad
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, taking notice of irregularities made during tenure of the previous governments regarding transfers and postings abroad, has ordered to call back staff of National Database Regulatory Authority (Nadra) deployed at different Pakistani embassies in the world, the Interior Ministry said.He asked the concerned authorities to make a transparent and purely merit-based policy to post Nadra’s employees abroad.He ordered to call the staff back from Abu Dhabi working there for more than seven years.

Pakistanis travelling to India may catch swine flu: Burney
KARACHI: Chairman Ansar Burney Trust International Ansar Burney has warned Pakistani citizens against travelling to India due to the spread of swine flu (H1N1 virus).In a press release on Friday, the trust also urged Pakistani citizens who are currently in India on a visit to avoid swine flu–affected areas and public places where the disease is more likely to spread. He said that reportedly there were over 2,000 swine flu deaths across India and on March 4, the number of those who have contracted the disease has reached 23,153.Burney has already requested President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take measures to save Pakistani nation from Swine flu virus before it’s too late.Ansar Burney said Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan are at risk of swine flue.

Iftikhar accuses KP govt of mismanagement
NOWSHERA: Awami National Party (ANP) General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain Fridaysaid that delaying the Senate elections for hours pointed to mismanagement and aggressive attitude of the provincial government. Speaking at a news conference here, he said the aggressive attitude of the government had created fear of possible rescheduling or postponement of the Senate polls. “But the matter was resolved amicably,” he added.

All speculations proved wrong, says KP CM
By our correspondent
NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPAs proved the opposition wrong and elected all the party’s candidates in the Senate elections. Talking to reporters here on Friday, Pervez Khattak said that oppositions and media claims about the Senate elections in KP were based on their bias against the party. He said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman strived hard for the independent candidate’s victory. “The reports of our party MPAs involvement in horse-trading were based on speculations,” he said, adding that those who spread these rumours were actually involved in horse-trading. He said he had offered five seats to the opposition. “If our formula was accepted and adopted, 12 senators would have been elected unopposed,” he claimed. The chief minister said the election was a nightmare for the independents who had spent huge amount on the false promises from the opposition leaders.

Grand anti-encroachment operation begins in Swat
By our correspondent
MINGORA: The district administration Friday launched a grand anti-encroachment operation. The administration with heavy machinery and heavy contingents of police launched a grand anti-encroachment drive and demolished cabins, kiosks, illegal structures in front of shops and removed the hand and pushcarts from the bazaar. The shopkeepers and traders protested the drive and blocked the Matta-Mingora road for traffic. Later, officials of security forces held talks with the protesters and local administration to settle the issue. The protesters dispersed peacefully.
‘Data of seminaries being collected’
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: After directing the authorities to expel Afghan prayer leaders from 294 mosques, the law enforcement agencies have started collecting data of seminaries where Afghan and tribal students are getting religious education. “The data of around 300 seminaries have been collected where hundreds of Afghan students are getting Islamic education,” said an official. The force has been directed to provide details of all the Afghan students and teachers to find out those illegally staying in the country and others involved in suspicious activities.

Shop damaged in Hangu blast
By our correspondent
HANGU: Unidentified persons blew up a shop in Samana area in the limits of Bilyamina Police Station on Friday, official sources said. They said explosive device planted near the shop of Muhammad Rahim went off early in the day. The goods in the shop were destroyed in the blast, they added. The police and bomb disposal unit officials reached the spot and defused another device which had not yet gone off.

Police say 484 suspects rounded up
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in the ongoing search and strike operation rounded up 484 suspects on Friday. A press release said during snap checking at 128 check points, 340 suspects were held and 18 arms of different kinds and 179 cartridges of various bores were recovered. Up to 45 Afghans were detained and 34 cases were registered against them.
27 held in Charsadda operation
By our correspondent
CHARSADDA: The police arrested nine suspected persons and 18 proclaimed offenders, besides seizing arms and ammunition from them during search and strike operation here on Friday, sources said.