Briefs

Nawaz offers Friday prayers with Muslim leaders

HAFAR AL BATIN, Saudi Arabia: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif offered the Friday prayers along with leaders from 21 Muslim countries who gathered here to witness the concluding ceremony of a joint military exercise.Nawaz, along with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud and other leaders, offered the Friday prayers at the Royal Guest House mosque, a statement released by the PM’s media office said. Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif accompanied the prime minister. The dignitaries, who offered the prayers, included leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Senegal, Sudan, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Chad, Turkey, Tunisia, Comoros, Djibouti, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, Egypt and Mauritania.

Scaparrotti new NATO top commander

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama nominated US Army General Curtis Scaparrotti on Friday to become NATO´s top military commander, the Pentagon said, a key role as NATO builds up its posture in Eastern Europe in a bid to deter Russia. 

Four die as Pindi-bound van hits water tanker

ISLAMABAD: Four passengers died and five other got injured when Rawalpindi-bound van rammed into a water tanker near Malpur here Friday, police said.A passenger van (LZJ-6499) coming to Rawalpindi from Murree collided with a water tanker (RIK-6878) while taking U-turn near Malpur.The collision resulted in the death of four passengers identified as driver of van Asif, 35, Zaheer Abbasi, 40, Rukhsar Bibi, 35, w/o Zaheer Abbasi and their son Basit, 8. The bodies have been shifted to Federal Government Services Hospital (Poly Clinic).The injured persons were stated to be out of danger and they are identified as Jehangir Sajid, Shagufta Ahmed, Nadeem and Shamraiz

Iran hands over 203 deportees to Levies

CHAGHI: Iranian security forces handed over 203 Pakistani nationals to Levies force at Pak-Iran border in Taftan area of the district. Levies sources said Friday that these Pakistani workers were apprehended from different parts of Iran by the Iranian security forces for living without traveling documents and had come to Iran to earn livelihood. The Levies force said that the deportees would be handed over to FIA for further interrogation.

 NA to meet on Monday

ISLAMABAD: The President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has summoned the 30th session of the National Assembly on Monday (March 14) at 3 pm in the Parliament House. The President has summoned the session in exercise of powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, said a press release on Friday.

40 arrested in Upper Dir operation

By our correspondent

DIR: The police have arrested 40 proclaimed offenders and also seized weapons during a search and strike operation in Sahibabad area of Upper Dir, an official said. Addressing a press conference at Sahibabad Police Station, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hazrat Nabi and Station House Officer Gul Zamin said that the police had launched a search and strike operation against the outlaws in far-off areas, including Kadikhail Darra, Patao, Malnga and Molvi, and arrested 40 proclaimed offenders. They said that three Kalashnikovs, 24 pistols and thousands of rounds were also seized. The weapons and ammunition were presented before media too.