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| 12 die as blast rocks NWA |
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Al-Qaeda leader al-Misri reported among dead
By our correspondent
PESHAWAR: Twelve people, including Arab, Pakistani and Afghan militants, were killed and several others injured, some of them women and children, in a mysterious blast in Surkot village, five kilometres east of Miramshah, regional headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, on Wednesday evening.
Among the dead, the name of al-Qaeda operative Abu Musa al-Misri was also circulating. Tribal and Taliban sources said four houses were destroyed in the devastating blast caused by explosives dumped inside the house in Surkot village.
They strongly denied reports that the blast caused by a drone attack. Also, they denied the killing of any senior al-Qaeda operative in the blast, but admitted that some of the victims were “guests”, a word they referred to the foreign militants fighting in Afghanistan.
They said a man with the same name — Abu Musa al-Misri — has already been declared dead in two previous drone attacks at Naurak and later at Khaisura in Mirali subdivision in North Waziristan Agency.
When reached by telephone, a senior Taliban commander, who wished not to be named, said the dead included Arabs, Pakistani and Afghan fighters, and some children of the Arab militants.
He said the militants have dumped huge explosives inside the house and were making a bomb from explosives when they mistakenly touched some wires that caused a huge blast. He said four other houses located in the same vicinity were also destroyed, causing widespread destruction.
The injured, including women and children of the militants, have been shifted to Miramshah hospitals. The sources said the militants surrounded the affected area and called tractors to help retrieve bodies and injured from the rubble of the damaged buildings.
“The death toll may go up as still there are people under the rubble,” said a tribal elder of Surkot village. He said it was a heavy blast that shook the entire town. He did not agree that the blast was caused by the drone attack as no drone was sighted in the area at the time of explosion.
A government official based in Miramshah admitted that it was not the drone attack, but said it was possible that the US forces from across the border in Afghanistan could have fired guided missile as the destruction was far beyond drone attack.
“Only a room or two are usually damaged in the drone attack. But it caused extensive destruction which seem to me is something very serious,” said the official pleading anonymity.
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CJ says good governance being compromised
By Sohail Khan
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that good governance is being compromised as it is believed that the administration of justice is the sole duty of courts or the legal fratern more |
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Hakimullah dies of wounds in Multan?
By Mushtaq Yusufzai
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MNAs seek solution to Sindh-Punjab water rift
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Yousuf Tal more |
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Good governance hinges on change in national behaviour: PM
By our correspondent
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NIC made mandatory to get sugar from USC outlets
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The ECC met here unde more |
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Three provinces to hold LG polls in four months
By Hanif Khalid & Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: A high level meeting here on Tuesday at the Aiwan-e-Sadr decided that the chief ministers of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan would hold local government elections in four months.
President Asif Al more |
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Senators condemn attack on Sh Rashid
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Senators on Tuesday strongly condemned the murder attempt on Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members advised Sheikh Rashid to stop more |
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PIA obliges religiously; latest being religious minister
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A brigadier without brigade has a history of thrashing
By Umar Cheema
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PAC settles drought money misuse
By Rauf Klasra
ISLAMABAD: A special committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probing misuse of drought funds worth million of rupees on Tuesday conveniently settled majority of charges against deputy auditor general o more |
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NA-55 by-polls
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has urged all the political parties, including the PML-N, to withdraw from the NA-55 by-polls in favour of Sheikh Rashid.
“ more |
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Point scoring be avoided in Rashid attack case: Shahbaz
By our correspondent
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He said a joint investigation team comprising federal and provincial agencies including I more |
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SC moved against delay in judges’ appointment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was moved on Tuesday against the government’s delay in the appointment of judges in the apex court and was prayed for directing the government to perform its constitutional duty by more |
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‘74 killed in Bajaur operation’
By Hasbanullah Khan
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Afghan unrest kills US, French soldiers
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The US service member was killed in an improvised bomb blast in southern Afghanis more |
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Army called in for today’s Lakki by-election
By our correspondent
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Meeting discusses political issues
ISLAMABAD: A meeting held here at the presidency on Tuesday and presided over jointly by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani discussed political and development issues in the N more |
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Rashid accuses PML-N of promoting criminal culture
ISLAMABAD: Head of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid, on Tuesday criticised the PML-N-led Punjab government for promoting criminal culture in Rawalpindi and the province.
Talking to a private TV channel more |
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Briefs...
Over 64 dead in Afghan avalanches
KABUL: At least 24 bodies have been recovered and 40 other people are feared dead after avalanches swept vehicles into a ravine and trapped cars in a mountain pass overn more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
