PESHAWAR: Senior Minister NWFP Bashir Ahmad Bilour has said the security situation would improve in two months’ time. The minister was talking to media persons after meeting the heirs of the victims of bomb blasts here on Monday. “The province is on the frontline while Peshawar is a frontline city in the war against terror and deserves more resources to meet the challenges in an effective manner,” he said pointing out that the NWFP had suffered the maximum brunt of the terror war. He complained: “We have not been properly accommodated in terms of finances by the Federation.”
FC foils bid to smuggle weapons at border
ISLAMABAD: The Frontier Corps prevented a large quantity of weapons and explosive material from being smuggled into Pakistan at the Pakistan-Afghan border, said the FC Chairman Col Asad Shehzada Khatak. A TV channel quoted Col Khatak as saying that the FC Jawans, on Friday night, signalled a vehicle entering into Pakistan from Afghanistan to stop. The smugglers started firing. The Jawans took action, overpowered them and took the vehicle into custody. There was large quantity of weapons and explosives in the vehicle, which the FC men seized. The weapons included two rocket launchers, 47 rocket canons, 37 rocket fuses, nine Kalashnikovs, five LMG machine guns, more than 500,000 bullets and rounders and 250 kg of explosive material.
World AIDS Day to be observed today
ISLAMABAD: World AIDS Day will be observed in Pakistan like other parts of the globe on Tuesday to raise awareness about the disease and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic. Various activities have been planned by public and private health organisations to mark the day, including talk shows, group discussions, awareness walk, seminars etc.
Prisoners clash with police in Nawabshah
By Anwar Shaikh
NAWABSHAH: Five prisoners received minor injuries in a clash with the jail staff, who had prevented them from meeting relatives on the second day of the Eid in District Jail Shaheed Benazirabad. The prisoners locked the four jail staff members in a barrack and started shouting slogans against the jail authorities. The police resorted to using tear gas shells, which infuriated the prisoners. Five prisoners received minor injuries during the clash. However, the situation became normal after talks between the jail authorities and the prisoners. Later, 16 prisoners of the District Jail were shifted to Hyderabad Central Jail.
FO asks UK to stop suspecting Pak terror efforts
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit on Sunday urged the world powers, especially the United Kingdom, to avoid media statements and share credible intelligence information (if any) about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden with Pakistan to enable it to act promptly.Commenting on the statement of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who asked Pakistan to ‘do more’ for capturing Osama bin Laden and eliminating al-Qaeda, the foreign office spokesman told a private TV channel that nobody should doubt Pakistan’s sincere efforts for eliminating terrorism. None knows about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the UK should extend cooperation with Pakistan in eliminating terrorism. “During the last seven to eight years, Pakistan has either captured or killed more than 700 al-Qaeda operatives,” he added.
Bilour supports benefits of NRO for innocent politicians
PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has said that there is no harm in giving benefit to politicians through the NRO, especially in a country where politics are based on political vendetta. Talking to journalists, while exchanging Eid greetings here, he said the NRO was not a bad phenomenon but it should not be applied to the people involved in loot and plunder of the national wealth. Bilour said politically-motivated cases in a country like Pakistan were usually framed against the opponents therefore politicians not involved in financial embezzlement, if given any benefit through the NRO would not be a bad practice.
Woman axed to death in Quetta
QUEETA: A man axed to death his wife and severely injured his daughter in the Chalo Bowari area here on Monday. Neighbours shifted the injured to a hospital in critical condition. The man was identified as Habib, who fled. Police said the reason for the crime was a domestic dispute.
Boy electrocuted while flying kite
QUETTA: A boy was electrocuted in Patel Bagh area in the jurisdiction of Gwalmandi police station here on Monday. SHO Gwalmandi police told APP that 14-year-old Kashif was flying a kite on the roof of his house when he touched an electricity wire which resulted in instant death. His body was removed to Civil Hospital where an autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of death. Police have registered a case.
Nafisa Shah’s secretary attempts suicide
By our correspondent
KHAIRPUR: Secretary of MNA Nafisa Shah Jilani attempted suicide here over a domestic issue. Sources said the secretary, Mehmood Shaikh, shot and injured himself.
Rangers, BSF exchange sweets on Eid
LAHORE: Officials of the Pakistan Rangers and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), putting aside all differences, exchanged sweets on the occasion of Eidul Azha at the Wahga Border. The sweets were also exchanged at the Line of Control (LoC) in a cordial atmosphere. Major Rasheed of the Kashmir Regiment said a message of peacewas conveyed to India on the occasion.
Militants, peace force member trade fire in Buner
BUNER: An exchange of fire between the militants and a member of Sultanwas peace force resulted in minor injuries to a constable of the special force. The injured was shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Daggar, on Eid day. Syed Ibrar Bacha, son of Amarali Shah Bacha, an active member of the Fateh Sery Sultanwas peace force, lodged an FIR with the Pir Baba Police Station against seven local militants, including four real brothers. The injured constable, Khaista Rehman, was dicharged after first aid. According to the FIR, the male members of the Bacha family were on high alert on the night of Eid with their guards when armed militants tried to attack them at midnight. The exchange of fire continued for one hour.
Four of a family killed
By our correspondent
RAWALPINDI: Four members of a family were killed when a passenger van hit their motorcycle in Jatli on Monday, police said. A family of five was on its way back home after spending Eid holidays with their relatives in Chauntra. Muhammad Farooq, son of Muhammad Afzal, was heading towards Chakwal from Chauntra with his wife Maroof Bibi, Irum Farooq, aged 3, Aqsa Farooq, 10, and Sajid Farooq, 5, on his motorcycle. A passenger van (LRS-1294), coming from the opposite side, hit the motorcycle on the Pir Phulai Road while overtaking another vehicle and killed four of them on the spot. However, Sajid, 5, survived and was shifted to hospital in critical condition. The police are hunting for the driver.
Asfandyar celebrates Eid in Dubai
By Mumtaz Alvi
ISLAMABAD: The ANP President, Asfandyar Wali Khan, who had survived a suicide attack on the second day of Eidul Azha last year, celebrated the religious festival with his son in Dubai. The nationalist party leader left Pakistan early last week for medical check-up and to spend some time with his son Aimel, who studies in Malaysia but was in Dubai in connection with a function. The ANP spokesperson, Arbab Muhammad Tahir, said the party leader would stay abroad for another fortnight or so. The ANP spokesperson denied that Asfandyar had left Pakistan because of security reasons.
Two killed, 16 injured in road accident
QUETTA: Two passengers, including a minor boy, were killed and 16 others injured when a passenger van overturned on the RCD Highway near Surab area of Kalat district on Monday.Police said a Khuzdar-bound pick-up, with 18 passengers on board, overturned due to overspeeding.