ramzan end . Allah aap sab k rozay aur ibadaat qubool farmaye

Colors Of Life 

 Colors Of Lifeاللَّهُـمّ صَــــــلٌ علَےَ مُحمَّــــــــدْ و علَےَ آل مُحمَّــــــــدْ كما صَــــــلٌيت علَےَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ و علَےَ آل إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّك حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اللهم بارك علَےَ مُحمَّــــــــدْ و علَےَ آل مُحمَّــــــــدْ كما باركت علَےَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ و علَےَ آل إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّك حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ  Colors Of Life  

It might be last sehri for this Ramadan ... Allah aap sab k rozay aur ibadaat qubool farmaye aur aap sab ki hifazat farmaye.. Ameen!

No ban on pillion riding in Khi on Eid

KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has announced lifting ban on pillion riding in Karachi during three days of Eid-ul-Fitr, 

This he announced during his visit to Zainab Market Karachi. He said that there will be no ban on pillion riding on three days of Eid.

Khi operation: Four accused held, arms recovered

KARACHI: Police on late Monday night arrested four miscreants and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession in Baldia town, Police in a joint operation along with FC in sector 19-D of Baldia town arrested four accused and recovered two Kalashnikovs, two pistol and huge quantity of ammunition from their possession. Meanwhile, police during search operation in Khwaja Ajmer Nagri, Zareena colony and surrounding areas took five accused in custody while a suspected miscreant was arrested after exchange of fire in Muhammad Shah graveyard.

Indian Passengers plane bad landing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Indian Passengers plane bad landing > Terrified passengers jumped out of a plane in India on Monday after it skidded to halt on landing, trying to escape before emergency ladders were put in place, officials said.Seven passengers were injured in the pre-dawn incidaent when the Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala landed badly in wet weather conditions and veered onto muddy grassland.

 

“The Bahrain-Kochi Airbus 320 shot 10 metres (30 feet) off the runway. Some passengers in panic jumped out of the emergency exit before the ladders were brought,” A.C.K. Nair, Kochi Airport director, 

“Because the nose of the plane was damaged the emergency (inflatable) ladder did not work, so a rescue team started bringing ladders to the site. But before they arrived, people began to jump.”

“All those injured were injured because they jumped out too soon.”

Nair said 137 passengers were on board the flight.

One passenger remained in hospital and the runway was closed for several hours, Nair said.

“The preliminary investigation revealed bad weather and poor visibility caused the accident,” another airport 

Gaddafi wife and three children in Algeria

 Muammar Gaddafi's wife and three of his children entered Algeria on Monday morning, Algeria's Foreign Ministry said, drawing criticism from Libya's rebels who said granting refuge to the family was an "act of aggression."

Their arrival, a week after Tripoli fell into rebel hands, was reported to the United Nations and the Libyan rebel authorities, the state Algeria Press Service (APS) reported, citing a statement from the ministry.

"Muammar Gaddafi's wife Safia, his daughter Aisha, his sons Hannibal and Mohammed, accompanied by their children, entered Algeria at 08.45 a.m. (0745 GMT) through the Algerian-Libyan border," said APS.

Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown after Tripoli fell to his foes. The rebels have offered a $1.3 million reward and amnesty from prosecution for anyone who kills or captures him.

Gaddafi's son Khamis, who led the elite and widely feared Khamis brigade, was killed in a clash near the capital, a senior rebel officer said on Monday. No independent confirmation of the death was available.

ACT OF AGGRESSION

A spokesman for the National Transitional Council (NTC) said it considered Algeria's move granting refuge to the Gaddafi family members an act of aggression and it will seek their extradition.

"We have promised to provide a just trial to all those criminals and therefore we consider this an act of aggression," spokesman Mahmoud Shamman told Reuters. "We are warning anybody not to shelter Gaddafi and his sons. We are going after them in any place to find them and arrest them," he said.

NTC vice chairman Abdel Hafiz Ghoga echoed this: "All Gaddafi's family are wanted for financial crimes against Libya. His wife, daughter, all of them."

Libyan rebel officials had previously accused Algeria -- the only one of Libya's North African neighbors yet to recognize the NTC -- of backing Gaddafi, an allegation Algeria has denied.

Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci had held talks with a senior Libyan rebel official, APS reported earlier on Monday, the highest-level contact in months of fraught relations between Libya's new leadership and their Algerian neighbors.

Medelci met Mahmoud Jibril, head of the NTC's executive committee, on the sidelines of an Arab League meeting in Cairo.

Mohammed is the son from Gaddafi's first marriage. Last week, Gaddafi's forces helped him flee house arrest after he was captured by rebels. The loyalist fighters stormed the house where Mohammed was held and set him free after clashes with guards there, Al Jazeera news channel said.

Since the revolt began in February, Aisha Gaddafi has made several public appearances backing her father and attacking the rebels and Western powers trying to overthrow him. Hannibal Gaddafi has kept a low profile since the unrest began.

Vermont, New Jersey flooded as Irene spares NYC

 New Jersey and Vermont struggled with their worst flooding in decades on Monday, a day after Hurricane Irene slammed an already soaked region with torrential rain, dragging away homes and submerging neighborhoods underwater.

Spared from Irene's worst fury, New York City went back to work on Monday despite a partially crippled mass transit system and power outages that left 100,000 customers in the metropolitan area without electricity.

More than 12,000 East Coast flights were canceled and it could take three days to restore normal service, the industry group Air Transport Association said.

Overall, some 5.5 million homes and businesses were still without power from North Carolina to Maine, and utilities said it could take days to restore electricity in more accessible areas and weeks in the hardest-hit regions.

Total economic damage could reach $20 billion, Standard & Poor's Senior Economist Beth Ann Bovino said. Hundreds of thousands of homes suffered damage, raising questions about how much would be covered by insurance as many homeowner policies do not cover flood damage.

In Fairfield, New Jersey, about 20 homes near the Passaic River were submerged, some in at least five feet of water. Some people waded chest high or rode canoes down the street, while others just sat and witnessed the flood from their stoops.

"This is the worst flood we have ever had," said Mike Chiafulio, 52, who could only watch as the water continued to rise around his mother's house.

The flooding exceeding what he remembered from notable floods in 1968 and 1984.

"We've never seen anything like this and it's still rising," said Wieslaw Borek, 54, who has lived in the area for 17 years. "People have been forced to leave and get out. There could be looting, you never know."

21 DEAD IN UNITED STATES

At least 21 people died in the United States in addition to three who died in the Dominican Republic and one in Puerto Rico when the storm was still in the Caribbean.

"It's going to take time to recover from a storm of this magnitude," President Barack Obama told reporters in Washington. "The effects are still being felt across much of the country, including in New England and states like Vermont where there's been an enormous amount of flooding.

"I'm going to make sure that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and other agencies are doing everything in their power to help people on the ground."

Vermont officials called it the state's worst flooding since 1927.

Air travel at New York City's three major area airports slowly resumed service, and financial markets operated normally, although volumes were low.

New York City subways returned to service, but many commuter lines to the city and national train carrier Amtrak were disrupted due to tracks that were flooded or blocked with fallen trees and debris.

While Irene failed to produce the devastation many had expected when New York City preemptively ordered unprecedented evacuations and a shutdown of its mass transit system on Saturday, it still left hundreds of thousands of homeowners with flood damage, especially in New Jersey and Vermont.

"I keep being somewhat disappointed by some of the national press that think because Manhattan wasn't hit, everything is fine. We're not Manhattan, but we have human lives here in Vermont, too," Governor Peter Shumlin said after surveying washed out roads and bridges and homes bobbing in the water.

Shumlin visited the Whetstone Studio for the Arts in Brattleboro, an artsy community of 12,000 along the Connecticut River. Gushing water ate away at the building and left its second floor dangling precariously over the flood.

MAJOR FLOODING

Some 5 to 15 inches of rain fell over a 24- to 36-hour period in northeastern states, said David Vallee, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service, creating moderate to major flooding in parts of eastern New York state, the Connecticut River valley and much of northern New Hampshire and Vermont.

"Right now in Vermont, they are still very much in a search-and-rescue to try to figure out where people are cut off and make sure they have everybody located and accounted for," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate told reporters in Washington.

One person was killed after being swept into a river, and at least one of Vermont's historic covered bridges was washed away as Irene's rains sent rivers spilling over their banks.

Many northeastern rivers, already swollen from an unusually wet summer, were still cresting.

Fairfield, New Jersey, home to more than 7,000 people, was in danger of becoming an island as flooding from the Passaic River was expected to surpass that of a memorable flood in 1984, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

"We are surrounded already," said Gail Dupas, 36, who fled to a hotel after floodwaters on her street reached neck deep. "It's devastating. You have to grab what you can. Anything that's irreplaceable."

In Atlantic City, casinos started re-opening on Monday, creating backups as gamblers sought to check into hotels.

"We are still calculating the total revenue and profit loss from the shutdown but having to close our casinos the weekend before Labor Day in Atlantic City is significant to our business in Atlantic City," said Jennifer Weissman, spokeswoman for the Caesars Group, which owns several casinos there.

The costly cleanup will also further strain budgets of state and local governments, where economies have not recovered from the recession.

"It's a hit but not a fatal hit," said Joseph Seneca, a professor at Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. "The ability of states to respond (to the hurricane) is more constrained," Seneca said.

(Reporting by Christine Kearney in Fairfield, New Jersey; Scott Malone in Brattleboro, Vermont; Karen Pierog in Chicago; Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Lauren Keiper in Boston; Ben Berkowitz, Josh Schneyer and Edith Honan in New York; Tabassum Zakaria and Jeff Mason in Washington; David Warner in Philadelphia; Beth Gladstone in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Matthew Goldstein in Millburn, 

Baghdad mosque attack kills MP, 27 others

 BAGHDAD: An elderly bandage-swathed suicide bomber blew himself up in Baghdad's biggest Sunni mosque, killing an MP and at least 27 others in an attack that was blamed on al Qaeda on Monday.

The blast was part of nationwide violence that left 35 dead on Sunday, just days before the conclusion of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr festival that marks its end, and was apparently carried out by a man who detonated his explosives in a crowd of worshippers.

An interior ministry official said 28 people were killed and 37 wounded in the attack late on Sunday. A defence ministry official put the toll at 29 dead and 35 wounded.

The suicide blast was quickly condemned by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi.

Among the dead was Khaled al-Fahdawi, an MP from western Anbar province allied with the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc, the interior ministry official said. Elderly men and children were also among the casualties.

Baghdad security spokesman Qassim Atta and Ahmed Abdulghafur al-Samarrai, head of the blue-domed Umm al-Qura mosque that was targeted and one of the founders of an anti-Qaeda militia force comprised of Sunni tribesmen in Baghdad, pointed the finger at al Qaeda.

"It is 100 percent certain that Al-Qaeda is behind this attack," Atta told AFP on Monday.

He added that the bomber "blew himself up in the middle of the people in the mosque to try to get the maximum number of casualties."

Samarrai, meanwhile, told Al-Sharqiyah television: "I am sure al Qaeda was behind this attack ... We will continue our fight against those criminals and unbelievers. They tried to drag the country into sectarian war before."

He said he had seen the attacker before at the mosque, describing him as an elderly visitor and adding: "That is why it was so easy for him to enter the mosque."

The suicide bomber apparently walked up to a crowd, covered in bandages, as the mosque chief was giving a speech and detonated his explosives, according to Samarrai.

The Umm al-Qura mosque, located in western Baghdad, is the largest Sunni mosque in Baghdad and the headquarters of the Sunni Endowment, which is responsible for maintaining Sunni Muslim religious sites across Iraq.

Samarrai is known for his sermons against violent extremism. He was one of the founders of the Sahwa, or Awakening, movement in the mostly Sunni north Baghdad neighbourhood of Adhamiyah.

The Sahwa are comprised of Sunni tribesmen who joined forces with the US military against Al-Qaeda from late 2006, helping turn the tide of the insurgency. As a result, Sahwa fighters are despised by Al-Qaeda insurgents, and Samarrai has received several threats against his life.

A car bomb and four roadside blasts in other areas of the capital killed one person and wounded 20 others earlier Sunday, according to the interior ministry official.

Meanwhile, separate gun attacks in the restive central province of Diyala left five people dead, including two policemen, according to an Iraqi army colonel in Diyala's security command centre.

Explosions in Mosul and Tuz Khurmatu, north of the capital, left a policeman dead and six others wounded, security officials said. 

Parts of KPK to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Tuesday

PESHAWAR: Mufti Shahabuddin Populzai of Qasim Ali Khan mosque Peshawar has announced that Shawwal moon has been sighted in Peshawar and Eid-ul-Fitr would be on Tuesday, 

Talking to media after a meeting of moon sighting committee, Mufti Shahabuddin said that the Shawwal moon has been sighted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that they have received 10 witnesses.

It is pertinent to mention here that the not a single representative of the provincial government was present in the meeting.

Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee – the official moon sighting committee of Pakistan will meet on Tuesday.

PPP disowns Dr. Mirza's statement

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has disowned the statement of former Home Minister Sindh Dr. Zulfikar Mirza and termed it an unacceptable violation of the party discipline and contrary to the well thought out policy of reconciliation,

This was said in a statement issued here from the President House following a meeting chaired by PPP Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari.

The was attended by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Mir Nadir Magsi, Sharjeel Memon, Manzoor Hussain Wasan, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Agha Siraj Durrani and Abdul Qadir Patel.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Ms. Rukhsana Bangash and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present.

Army set to review Mirza’s statement after Eid

ISLAMABAD: The national security agencies have started to mull over Zulfiqar Mirza’s press conference and Pakistan Army is all set to review his statement in Corps Commanders Conference scheduled after Eid, .

According to sources, the post Eid corps commanders’ conference would also ponder specially over Zulfiqar Mirza’s claims regarding the national security.

Earlier this month, the last corps commanders’ conference expressed deep concerns over prevailing law and order situation in country including Karachi.

The COAS Ashfaq Parvez Kayani came to Karachi, last week, on a short trip where he was rendered an important briefing, by security agencies, over existing security situation in the metropolis

Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia, UAE & Egypt on Tuesday

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia announced Monday that the Eid-ul-Fitr feast marking the end of the fasting month of Ramazan will be on Tuesday, in a statement aired on state television Al-Ekhbariyah.

Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, said the Shawwal moon had been sighted and that Ramazan ends on Monday with the Eid to follow the next day.

Egyptian state television, quoting authorities, too declared that Eid al-Fitr will be on Tuesday.

The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also announced the end of Ramazan.

Blade Runner competes against able-bodied rivals

 JOHANNESBURG: Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius became the first amputee to qualify for the 400 meters semi-finals at the World Athletic Championships in Daegu, South Korea. 

The South African athlete known as ‘Blade Runner,’ due to his carbon fibre prosthetic legs, finished third in his race at 45.39 seconds while running alongside able-bodied athletes.

The 24-year-old, who had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, came on strongly in the second half of the race and finished 0.1 sec behind winner Chris Brown, with Britain's Martyn Rooney coming in second.

Debate has raged whether Pistorius should have even been allowed to compete, as some argued that his carbon fibre blades gave him an advantage. However, support for him was palpable inside the stadium, with South African flags being waved and chants of 'We love Oscar' breaking out before he took to his blocks.

British HC says reports of Altaf arrest unfounded

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner in Islamabad Adam Thomson on Monday said there is no truth in reports regarding the attempt made by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain to move out of UK besides the news of his arrest in London is also unfounded, 

Talking to media men here, the British HC described the present political scene of Pakistan as very interesting and that he was enjoying how the developments were unfolding.

To a question, he said investigations into the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq were underway.

When asked if Altaf Hussain had written any letter to the former British prime minister Tony Blair, he said had no knowledge of it nor 'do I know of any letter written by (MQM's) Nasreen Jalil.

ANP Sindh discusses Zulfiqar Mirza's outburst

 KARACHI: Awami National Party met here today under the chair of ANP Sindh President Shahi Sayed and asked Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to explain everything satisfactorily regarding the allegations leveled by Zulfiqar Mirza.

ANP Sindh discussed the situation in the aftermath of Zulfiqar Mirza's explosive press conference that has shook the power corridors.

Mirza said Altaf Hussain had told them that America had hatched a plan to break up Pakistan and he had come to know about it from well-connected people. Altaf Hussain told Mirza and Pir Mazhar that "he and his party had decided to support this American plan and therefore I (Altaf) will not stop the killing of Pakhtuns", Mirza said, adding that he did not want to sit with a leader who wanted to destroy Pakistan at the behest of a foreign country.

The party noted that the allegation to kill Pakhtuns is very serious one and demanded that top leadership of MQM should explain its position.

KSE hangs tough ahead of holidays

KARACHI: The Karachi Stock Exchange’s benchmark 100-share index on Monday closed 0.02 percent, or 2.12 points, higher at 10,903.88. 

The market made an intra-day low at 10,760.91.

Volume stood at 36.82 million shares, compared with 44.82 million shares traded on Thursday. The stock market was closed on Friday.

"Ahead of long holidays, activity remained dull and the focus was on selected stocks," said a broker. 

foot bol gol

Hong Kong shares rise 1.51% by noon

HONG KONG: Hong Kong shares rose 1.51 percent on Monday morning as traders welcomed a speech by US Fed chief Ben Bernanke that left the door open to monetary easing measures for the world's leading economy.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index added 296.63 points to 19,879.51 on turnover of HK$26.00 billion ($3.34 billion).

Altaf Hussain hospitalised in London

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain is under treatment in a London hospital for the last one week, said a MQM handout issued here today.

Altaf Hussain who is being treated by the specialists is recovering.

MQM Rabita Committee has appealed to all the workers, mothers, sisters, elders, children and the people at large to pray for his complete recovery and his long life, not to give ears to the rumors and maintain unity in their ranks.

Rabita Committee has also expressed its thanks to the President Asif Ali Zardari, Federal Minister, Rahman Malik and other dignitaries for sending the bouquets and enquiring about the health of Altaf Hussain. 

Hospital deluged with births as Irene batters North Carolina

 WILMINGTON: As Hurricane Irene lashed the U.S. East Coast, it brought a deluge of another sort to a North Carolina hospital - an unusually high number of newborn babies. 

Seventeen babies were born at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center during an 18-hour stretch on Friday and Saturday when the hospital was on lockdown during the storm, spokeswoman Carolyn Fisher said

MTV video awards honor Britney Spears, Katy Perry

 LOS ANGELES: Pop star Lady Gaga opened the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday dressed in drag and singing her "You and I" while Britney Spears and Katy Perry took awards, but it may be Beyonce who stole the show. 

The R&B singer whose hits include "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" appeared visibly pregnant as she showed up on the red carpet outside the show, posing for photographers and outlining a baby bump with her hands under her long gown.

Beyonce, who is married to rapper Jay-Z, avoided reporters waiting to ask whether she is pregnant. For years, her fans and the media have speculated whether and when the pair might have a baby.

Lady Gaga, who showed up last year at the MTV video awards in a dress made of raw meat, did an about face this year, opening the program in a man's dark suit and T-shirt as her male alter ego, Joe Calderon who gave the audience a lecture in just who Gaga is -- high heels, wild hair and crazy costumes.

"When she gets on stage, she holds nothing back," Calderon said.

Lady Gaga then launched into a version of "You and I," backed by a group of dancers and legendary rock guitarist Brian May of Queen. She danced on her piano and spewed beer from a bottle into the air in celebration.

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) annually give out honors for the top music videos and performances to singers and bands, and each year, audiences can count on at least one surprise.

Beyonce's picture-perfect baby news will likely be this year's unexpected event.

But awards are the focus of the night and the first winner was Spears for best pop music video "Till the World Ends."

The pop star took the stage and seemed surprised, saying she hadn't expected to win and thanking her family and fans.

Along with Spears, Foo Fighters picked up an early honor for best rock video with "Walk," and Nicki Minaj picked up the "Moonman" winner's statuette for her "Super Bass." Katy Perry and Kanye West were named best collaboration with "E.T."

Another major award still to come is best new artist, and Tyler, The Creator figures prominently in that race, too, alongside Wiz Khalifa with "Black and Yellow," Kreayshawn for "Gucci Gucci," Foster the People with "Pumped Up Kicks," and Big Sean (featuring Chris Brown) for "My Last."

British singer Adele with her chart-topping song "Rolling in the Deep" is vying for the top award, video of the year, against Katy Perry ("Firework"), Bruno Mars ("Grenade"), the Beastie Boys ("Make Some Noise") and Tyler, The Creator ("Yonkers").

Early performances included a duet by Jay-Z and Kanye West, singing a song from their new album, "Watch the Throne."

Other singers still to come include Lil Wayne, and there will be special tributes to Britney Spears and late soul singer Amy Winehouse.

Aussies, Sri Lanka set for tough Test battle

 GALLE: Rival captains Michael Clarke and Tillakaratne Dilshan will look to lead their young teams from the front when Australia and Sri Lanka begin their three-Test series on Wednesday.

Clarke, 30, begins his reign as a full-time Australian Test captain hoping to ease into the giant boots of Ricky Ponting, who quit as skipper after the World Cup in April.

Ponting, the world's most successful Test captain with 48 wins, will take the field as the senior statesman and the team's frontline batsman, but the focus will clearly be on the new skipper.

Clarke's lone Test as captain so far, when he stood in for an injured Ponting, was a forgettable experience as England swept to an innings and 83-run win at Sydney in January.

Ponting began his Test captaincy in Sri Lanka in 2004, leading Australia to a 3-0 sweep, and Clarke will hope for similar results even without retired greats like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.

Dilshan, 34, also took over after the World Cup from Kumar Sangakkara and goes into his first home series as captain hoping to make up for the 1-0 defeat in England earlier in the year.

Dilshan will miss the experience of prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading bowler with 800 wickets, who retired from the longer format a year ago.

Sri Lanka have not won a Test since Muralitharan bade goodbye, losing two and drawing six matches since July 2010.

The first Test at the Galle International Stadium marks the start of a new chapter for both teams looking to climb back in the Test rankings.

Former world number ones Australia have fallen to fifth place, while Sri Lanka, ranked second just a year ago, are fourth behind leaders England, South Africa and India.

With the top four teams due to contest the inaugural world Test championships in England in 2013, both Australia and Sri Lanka will hope to push their claims.

"I think it is going to take time for us to work our way back up the rankings," said Clarke. "But I'm confident with the talent we have and our dedication, I can see us having some success."

Clarke made a confidence-boosting start to the tour, winning the one-day series 3-2 before hitting a century in the drawn three-day practice match in Colombo ahead of the first Test.

Dilshan, meanwhile, was hoping his inexperienced bowling attack would perform well in home conditions where batsmen and slow bowlers have traditionally dominated.

The home squad has four spinners in its ranks, including the unorthodox Ajantha Mendis and leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna, 26, who has yet to make his Test debut.

Sri Lanka will be without sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who rattled the Australians with his third one-day hat-trick last week, as he has quit Test cricket to concentrate on the shorter forms of the game.

Local media speculated that efforts were being made to convince Malinga to change his mind and make himself available from the second Test onwards.

Rookie paceman Shaminda Eranga, 25, is one of the four young seamers in the squad for the Galle Test alongside Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad and Chanaka Welegedara.

"There is a lot of variety in our bowling, but we must put up good runs on the board to put the Australians under pressure," said Dilshan. "The key to success is how we bat."

The remaining two Tests will be played in Pallekele (September 8-12) and Colombo (Sept 16-20)

Qadirpur gas field closed for 10 days

 ISLAMABAD: Qadirpur Gas Field that supplies 415 MMCFD (million million cubic feet per day) of gas supply to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has been closed for ten days for the annual maintenance of gas plant, OGDCL officials told

Qadipour Gas Field located in upper Sindh has been closed for the maintenance and repair of the plant for ten days as against the earlier schedule of 20 days.

Meanwhile, the gas distribution company in Punjab, SNGPL facing shortfall of 400 MMCFD has totally suspended its onward supply to the industry within its franchise areas for this period, while the supply to power and fertilizer sectors would partially continue and uninterrupted supply to the domestic and CNG seators would be 

At least 21 killed as a result of Hurricane Irene

 NEW YORK: Emergency officials said at least 21 people across the United States have died as a result of Hurricane Irene: six in North Carolina; four each in Virginia and Pennsylvania; two in New York; and one each in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and Florida. 

Authorities are trying to determine whether an additional death reported in New York is connected to the storm.

The youngest fatalities were a boy killed by a falling tree in his apartment in Newport News, a city on a coastal peninsula in Virginia, and a girl who died in North Carolina.

North Carolina emergency management spokesman Brad Deen said one of the six victims in his state was a man who had a heart attack on Friday while nailing plywood over his windows in preparation for the hurricane.

Two people were also killed in the state in separate driving accidents. Another North Carolina fatality was a man struck by a falling tree limb while outside feeding his animals.

Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, told that four fatalities had so far been confirmed in her state.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie initially said two people had been killed -- a woman trapped in her car by rising floodwaters and a firefighter who succumbed to his injuries during a rescue attempt.

But only the woman's death was confirmed -- the firefighter was still alive in a critical condition in hospital and Christie had spoken out of turn after being given inaccurate information by his staff.

One man was killed by a storm-related electrical fire in Connecticut, while another storm-related death was a 55-year-old surfer who took to his board in treacherously high waves off the Florida coast on Friday.

Irene barreled up the east coast Sunday into the densely populated northeastern states of Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

In Vermont, Governor Peter Shumlin told CNN that a woman was feared dead after being swept into a rushing river, but a spokesman for the state's Emergency Management Agency, Mark Bosma, said her death was not confirmed.

Millions of people are without power and officials warned that flood damage from Irene's heavy rains may be felt for days.

Irene earlier left at least five people dead in the Caribbean, including one in the US territory of Puerto Rico.

Rangers arrest target killer from Shah Faisal Colony

 KARACHI: Rangers have claimed that a target killer has been arrested from Shah Faisal Colony, According to sources, the criminal identified as Sanaullah alias ‘Charia’ belongs to a political party.

Sanaullah was involved in terrorist activity in Shah Faisal Colony and Malir and was arrested earlier but released on bail. Sources add that Sanaullah has admitted to committing numerous murders and other criminal acts. 

Karachi violence: SC adjourns hearing till Tuesday

 KARACHI: The Supreme Court’s Karachi registry began hearing the suo moto case regarding the security situation in Karachi, . The case is being heard by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

During proceedings, IG Sindh Wajid Durrani informed the court that 306 people had been killed during July 24 and August 24. 25 bodies were recovered, 17 of which were recovered in gunny sacks. 332 cases were also lodged.

The Chief Justice asked the IG if he had investigated where the abducted people were taken and that he should have recorded the statement of at least one of the abducted. The IG informed the court that 20 criminals had been arrested but those abducted had failed to identity anyone due to fear. In his defense the IG told the court that those abducted on August 19 had been recovered.

In his remarks, the Chief Justice said the protection of life and property lay with institutions. He asked why SHO’s were not aware of crime in their jurisdiction. To this, IGP Sindh Wajid Ali Durrani replied that police and ordinary citizens were not allowed entry in no-go areas of Karachi. He also informed the court that extortion was a problem which was plaguing the city for the last 10-12 years.

Durrani informed the court about weapons which were present in the city, such as rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns to which the Chief Justice asked where were these weapons coming from? The Chief Justice asked the IG where torture cells had been discovered, to which Durrani replied that the police had not found any.

The chief justice formed two benches for hearing cases at the Karachi Registry on August 29 and 30. The first bench is headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while the second bench will be headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

The families of the victims of target killings were also asked to volunteer their appearance before the apex court and may also submit any evidence, if available.

The court has adjourned the hearing till Tuesday. 

wild animals

SC hears Karachi violence case today

 KARACHI: Strict security measures have been taken for the security of the Supreme Court's Karachi Registry that will begin hearing a suo moto case regarding the law and order situation in the city on Monday (today).

A five-member bench of the apex court, which will hear the case, comprises the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, according to an official of the Supreme Court's registry.

As for the security procedures, special passes will be issued by the Supreme Court, Karachi Registry, to the petitioners, respondents and their counsel appearing before the court.

Meanwhile, the chief justice has also formed two benches for hearing cases at the Karachi Registry on August 29 and 30.

The first bench will be headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while the second bench will be headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

IG Sindh Wajid Durrani would submit the record before the court regarding the violence in Karachi

The families of the victims of target killings have also been asked to volunteer their appearance before the apex court and may also submit any evidence, if available.

Irene toll rises to 18 in US: officials

WASHINGTON: The death toll in the United States from Hurricane Irene has risen to 18, with four new fatalities reported in the state of Pennsylvania, US officials said Sunday.

Six deaths have been recorded in North Carolina, where Irene made landfall early Saturday morning with 85-mile (140-kilometer) per hour winds, before heading up the eastern seaboard and scoring a rare hit on New York.

Four more deaths were recorded in Pennsylvania, including two men -- one in a tent and another in a camper -- who were crushed by falling trees.

The toll rose from eight overnight with new fatalities including men hit by falling trees in North Carolina and Virginia, a woman in Maryland struck by a falling chimney, as well as one victim in New Jersey.

The breakdown of fatalities was: six in North Carolina, four in Virginia, four in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey, and one each in Connecticut, Florida in Maryland.

The youngest fatalities were a boy killed by a falling tree in his apartment in Newport News, a city on a coastal peninsula in Virginia, and a girl who died in North Carolina.

"A 15-year-old girl was killed in a car accident on her way back from the beach after vacationing in North Carolina," explained emergency official Patty McQuillan.

"The traffic light at the intersection was not working, the power was out."

North Carolina emergency management spokesman Brad Deen said one of the six victims in his state was a man who had a heart attack on Friday while nailing plywood over his windows in preparation for the hurricane.

Two people were also killed in the state in separate driving accidents. Another North Carolina fatality was a man struck by a falling tree limb while outside feeding his animals.

Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, told AFP that four fatalities had so far been confirmed in her state.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie initially said two people had been killed -- a woman trapped in her car by rising floodwaters and a firefighter who succumbed to his injuries during a rescue attempt.

But only the woman's death was confirmed -- the firefighter was still alive in a critical condition in hospital and Christie had spoken out of turn after being given inaccurate information by his staff.

One man was killed by a storm-related electrical fire in Connecticut, while another storm-related death was a 55-year-old surfer who took to his board in treacherously high waves off the Florida coast on Friday.

"We had sent out an advisory recommending everyone check beach reports and use an abundance of caution before entering the water," state emergency official William Booher told AFP.

Irene barreled up the east coast Sunday into the densely populated northeastern states of Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

In Vermont, Governor Peter Shumlin told CNN that a woman was feared dead after being swept into a rushing river, but a spokesman for the state's Emergency Management Agency, Mark Bosma, said her death was not confirmed.

Millions of people are without power and officials warned that flood damage from Irene's heavy rains may be felt for days.

Irene earlier left at least five people dead in the Caribbean, including one in the US territory of Puerto Rico.

MQM convenes meetings in Khi, London

MQM convenes meetings in Khi, London

KARACHI: The Coordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has convened meetings in London and Karachi hours after the fiery press conference by Pakistan People Party leader Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza on Sunday,

In an initial reaction, MQM has issued a statement condemning the allegations leveled by Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza against the party chief Altaf Hussain and described the move as highly obnoxious.

The statement said that Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza's allegations were a conspiracy to fan hatred and trigger violence in the province.

It alleged that Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza was directly involved in the targeted killings orchestrated in Karachi.

Army not a permanent remedy to Karachi problem: Gilani

 LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that Pakistan was a powerful country and could look any country in the eyes on national interest.

Addressing a press conference at the State Guest House here, the Prime Minister said that safeguarding national interest was of supreme importance for his government. He said that Pakistan wanted to maintain friendly relations with the United States (US) on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest without compromising on each other’s national interests. Gilani said, “We have explained to the US government that if it is answerable to Congress, then we are equally accountable to the Parliament”.

To a query, the Prime Minister said there was no question of raising fingers at Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism.

Because of strategic position, Pakistan had to take up the role of a frontline state role in the fight against terror, he said and added that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and the Central Intelligence Agency (of US) were working in close liaison with each other while both the countries had launched joint actions against high-level targets in the past.
Condemning the cross-border attack in Chitral, he said that the Foreign Office had protested to the Afghan government on the issue.

Some elements did not want amicable relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and were creating disturbance, he added.

He said Pakistan was in the middle of the fight against terrorism and expressed the hope relations between the two neighbouring countries would strengthen in the near future.
About Al-Qaeda links in the security forces, Gilani said Pakistan’s security agencies were immensely efficient. Terrorism and extremism were a global phenomenon as well as a global threat which had to be addressed jointly through capacity building of each other, he added.

Responding to a question on the law and order situation in Karachi, he said that extremism and terrorism were major threats to the country and that the law and order situation in Karachi was a spill-over of the Afghan war.

He said that successful operation of the law enforcement agencies in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), Swat and Malakand had dispersed the terrorists who turned to soft targets like girls’ schools, shopping malls, public places and intelligence headquarters in order to cause collateral damage to life and property.

The Prime Minister said the situation of Karachi was also a reaction to the killing of Osama Bin Laden in Abottabad operation.

To another question, he did not rule the involvement of some foreign hands in Balochistan and Karachi incidents.When asked about any role for the Army in Karachi, the Prime Minister said police and Rangers were his priority. The civilian law enforcement agencies are a preference for all democratic governments while the Army also do not want to be controversial by involving in the Karachi situation, he added.

Gilani said he believed that a military action was not a permanent solution to the problems and he wanted adoption of 3 Ds (Dialogue, Development & Deterrence) policy in the resolution of issues. Removing deprivation of the people leaves no room for the use of force which should be used as a last resort only, he added.

When asked about the law and order situation in Lahore, the Prime Minister said that the overall situation was very good. However, he added that poverty, inflation, dearness, unemployment and illiteracy were the root causes of terrorism which could be eliminated through development.
Regarding Latif Khosa’s emotionally-charged press conference on the abduction of Shahbaz Taseer, Gilani said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was oncerned about the incident. He added that the PPP had suffered a lot for emocracy and rule of law in the country.

He said that the PPP workers were emotional today as they had lost Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Salman Taseer, Minorities ffairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti and many other party leaders for the ause of country and the people and recently Shahbaz Taseer was abducted while the decision on Salman Taseer’s murder was still awaited.

Gilani said Punjab the remarks of Governor Latif Khosa expressed his emotions.
The Prime Minister said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif prior to he meeting of the Council of the Common Interest (CCI) in Islamabad, assured him of early development in the Shahbaz Taseer case.
Replying to another query, he said the Federal Government was ready to provide all kinds of support to the provincial government in the case.

About the Balochistan issue, the Prime Minister said the Baloch people were patriotic Pakistanis who wanted development in their province.

He said it was necessary to grant provincial autonomy as well as NFC (National Finance Commission) award to the provinces for bringing an end to the sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan prevailing over a period of last 64 years.

Gilani said that the PPP government had the credit of granting autonomy to the provinces as well as the passage of NFC Award. He said the people of Balochistan should be given share in the royalty and jobs.

Responding to alleged corruption in the Law Ministry, he said he had taken up the issue in the cabinet. Some departments had passed cases on to other department for fear of criticism which caused inordinate delay in certain cases, he added.

About public reaction to corruption in India, the Prime Minister said that Manmohan Singh was a twice elected Prime Minister of that country and Indians were the best judge on the issue. It was people’s right if they demanded adoption of certain sections in a bill presented in the parliament as the parliament was sovereign, he added.

Gilani said as per the dsire of the people, his government would soon present an accountability bill in the parliament.Critical of unscheduled power outages in the country,
Gilani said he had directed for scheduled loadshedding in the country so that people could adjust their life-styles as per the already communicated schedule, adding the problem arose when people faced unscheduled loadshedding.

He said an energy conference would soon be convened to be attended by chief ministers of the four provinces.

The prime minister said he had constituted a committee comprising ministers Water and Power, Petroleum, Governor State Bank and deputy Chairman planning commission which would submit its recommendations soon.

Counting his government’s achievements, the Premier said 3000 MW had been added to the national grid and the projects of the same magnitude were in the pipeline, adding his government was committed to making the country self-sufficient in energy resources.

“We are working on nuclear, hydal, thermal, rental as well as renewable energy resources”, he elaborated.

The PM further said since the federal government could not fulfil energy needs of the country single-handedly, the provincial government would set up a project as soon as the federal government launches an energy project in the country.

To a query, the Premier dispelled the impression that Punjab was being discriminated against vis-a-vis load-shedding schedule, stressing it was needed to improve capacity.

When asked about possible reforms in the Pakistan Railways, the Premier said restructuring of railways was important to bring it out of the present chaos, adding a cabinet committee headed by Governor State Bank has been constituted to present its recommendation on the restructuring of the Pakistan Railways.

About the creation of a new province, Gilani said Southern Punjab had been a victim of neglect during the past 64 years and people wished the grant of rights so that their deprivations could be removed. He said that he respected their wishes and emotions in this regard.

The Prime Minister said that ‘PPP’s Manifesto committee’ had been tasked with presenting its recommendations on the creation of new provinces in the light of sentiments of civil society, media and other stake-holders, adding a decision on the creation of a new province will be taken after the committee presents its recommendations.

To another query, he said there were three parties including PPP, PML-N and PML-Q on the issue of creation of Seraiki province and the accord of two on the issue, would win the day.

Mirza resigns, levels serious allegations against MQM

 KARACHI: Senior Pakistan People's Party leader Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has announced to resign from all party/government posts,  reported Sunday.

Addressing the news folk at Karachi Press Club, he accused Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik of siding with the killers, misleading the party leadership, and contorting facts. He declared him an enemy of the state and a compulsive liar.

Malik is a compulsive liar and responsible for Karachi bloodshed, Mirza said, adding Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) doesn't have a real mandate in Karachi or Hyderabad, they extort votes at gunpoint.

Levelling another very serious allegation against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, he said: "During a meeting with Altaf Hussain in London he (Altaf Hussain) said the US wanted to disintegrate Pakistan and he and his party (MQM) would side with the US in their goal. Therefore, Altaf Hussain said he would kill the Pathans"

Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza went on to say: "Altaf Hussain wrote a letter to the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair asking him to bust ISI before it produces any more Osama Bin Ladens."

He asked as to what sin was committed by Wali Khan Babar, a Geo News reporter who was murdered in Karachi.

Mirza said five accused who were involved in the killing of Wali Khan Babar belonged to MQM and named one of them as Liaquat who, he said, was still at large. "Liaquat is the one whose car was used in the killing and he was the one who opened fire on Wali Khan Babqar."

"MQM is the killer of Wali Khan Babar," he reiterated.

Dr. Mirza also alleged that the present CPLC Chief Ahmed Chinoy holds an important position in Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF) which is a welfare wing of MQM.

He said MQM had held hostage all industrialists, businessmen and shopkeepers of Karachi.

Before starting the press conference he swore on the Holy Quran to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

Praising ISI and Pakistan Army Mirza said Pakistan's existence is due to the sacrifices of our security forces.

Senior provincial minister, Works & Services Dr Zulfiqar Mirza is the Vice President of PPP Sindh and also a Central Executive Committee member besides a close aide of President Asif Zardari. He was elected from Sindh Assembly seat PS-57 Badin I.

Pledging at the beginning he requested reporters to take him seriously for the first and the last time. He arrived at the Karachi Press Club at 4:20pm. The best decision of my life is to marry Dr Fehmeda Mirza, he said.

Mirza noted that he has never bend the laws and he follows the principles of Shaheed Zulfiar Ali Bhutto. Allah Almighty through Mohrarma Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari blessed me with all that I own.

He added that I see eye to eye with my party. I'm a party worker and will always be that way. I am a Sindhi and proud of it, he added. He vowed never to bow down to cruelty.

Mirza said if anything happens to me then killers of Imran Farooq and Wali Baber would be responsible.

Mirza's press conference ended at 6:15 pm which started around 4:25 pm.

London: ‘the situation in Pakistan is much worse’

With the London riots making news across the world, a stark mixture of disillusionment and optimism prevails. At this critical juncture what is needed is a recipe for improvement, rather than solutions laced in violence.

Maaria Mahmood is an expatriate Pakistani based in London who shared with me her perspective on the imbroglio her adoptive city finds itself in. She spoke with candour about the chaos and consequences of the riots and effectively proved that the youth in London are much more than just agents of unrest.

How have the riots affected the status quo in London?

These riots officially are in the name of Mark Duggan, a local gang leader shot dead by police which has set forth as a four-day looting extravaganza across all parts of London and the midlands. Critics of the riots and of the black community have called the looters ‘mindless opportunists’ and ‘criminals on the loose’.
Local residents and small business owners have been worst hit as they are scared and worried. They see their livelihoods being looted away by these youngsters. What shocks and saddens many is that the rioters are indeed damaging their own communities. We, in London, are living in fear as these crazed lunatics continue destroying everything. Once again, the taxpayers will have to pay for the reconstruction of towns and cities across England.

Has the media reported it in a balanced manner?

Poverty, youth alienation and disfranchisement, police brutality, irresponsible government spending polices, misguided modern popular culture, out-right criminality and a failing education system are all endemic problems in England. It is not clear whether these are the underlying reasons for the riot. But I can clearly say that the behavior of the looters is not one of someone fighting a political cause. It represents mindless behavior which causes out right chaos and destruction. However, the media have not and are not likely to report on these underlying reasons. To them there is no justifiable reason for this kind of behavior. So reporting on them will merely condone it.

How have the police reacted to this sticky situation?

The public in a cry of fury have asked the police to act in a more defensive manner against the protesters – something which they have failed to do in fear threats from human rights agencies. News channels have been reporting about citizens who have lost their lives in trying to protect their communities. This is a job that should have been carried out by the police.

What can be done to resolve this matter?

Taraweeh prayers at the Southall mosque were held under great strain. But fortunately the Sikh community stood outside the mosque protecting it from the rioters. This shows that unity is what will help us climb out of this predicament. Residents in areas across London have also organized ‘CLEAN UPS’ where they have all taken matters into their own hands and cleaned up their neighbourhoods in order to restore normalcy –something which we may not see for a while.

As a Pakistani based in London, what are your perceptions of Pakistan as a terrorist country and how have these perceptions changed since the situation in London has progressively worsened?

I would say that the situation in Pakistan is much worse than what we have seen in London over the last few days. What occurred in London hasn’t been seen in the UK for over twenty years. However, acts of this nature are common in Pakistan. The social structure in Pakistan is so much more fragile. If anything these London riots put into perspective just how bad the situation in Pakistan has become.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani The Faisal Mosque in namz CNB

Big underground river flows below Amazon

RIO DE JANEIRO: Scientists in Brazil claim to have discovered a massive 6000km river running deep below the Amazon basin, but other researchers think it might just be water trickling through underground rocks.

Known for its rich biodiversity and misty beauty, researchers are now wondering if they have only seen part of the Amazon, since the "discovery" of the underground Hamza River was presented by scientists from Brazil’s National Observatory at a conference last week.

Elizabeth Tavares Pimentel and Valiya Hamza located the river by collecting data samples from temperature variations in 241 abandoned deep wells, drilled in the Amazon by Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company, in the 1970s and 1980s.

If the river, located between two and four kilometres below the earth's surface, is as big as the scientists believe, it could be the longest underground river in the world.

"It is kind of fascinating from a scientific point of view," said Michael Coe, leader of the Amazon programme at the Woods Hole research centre in the US who has studied the area for 12 years. "What we see on the surface is not all that is going on."

Untraditional river

While massive in size, the underground formation probably holds less than three per cent of the water, which flows through the traditional Amazon, Coe said. "It is not a river in the sense of water flowing through a tube; it would be water flowing through porous stones," he told Al Jazeera. "The lion's share of the water is still on the surface."

Jorge Figueiredo, a geologist with Petrobras who has published widely on the Amazon, scoffs when asked if the underground water should be considered a river. “The authors made their conclusion based on the temperature of the rocks, but we have data against this possibility.”
He doesn’t think the discovery was based on sound science. The report came from a presentation at a conference. It did not pass peer review from other scientists in a scholarly journal.

“It seems to be a bit of nonsense work,” Figueiredo said. The variation of temperature, an important part of the researcher’s theory, “can be based on many different things,” he said.
While the Hamza River may be massive, the water running through it moves slowly. About 133,000 cubic metres of water flows through the traditional Amazon each second, while the underground river's flow rate has been estimated at about 3900 cubic metres per second.
While the Amazon ranges from one kilometer to 100 kilometers in width, the Hamza is much wider, allegedly ranging from 200 to 400km. But the river’s size means it is unlikely to be a continuous flow, Figueiredo said.

Broader implications unclear

“Six thousands kilometres [the apparent length of the river] is almost the width of South America,” Figueiredo told Al Jazeera. Underground rock formations across the contient are not all connected, he said, meaning the chances of one continuous river are unlikely at best. He does not believe the underground water should be considered a river.

Scientists are not sure what the discovery means for broader ecological issues. “This could contribute to slow salinity in near-coastal environments, but I am not sure,” Coe said. If the water is fresh, as some scientists claim, it could affect coastal ecosystems from mangroves to marshlands. Figueiredo does not think there is any way fresh water could be buried that deep.

Bacteria and other small organisms are likely the only life, which could survive in water this far underground, Coe said.

If nothing else the discovery underscores how many important natural resources exist, undiscovered, in the Amazon, said Rafael Cruz, a Greenpeace campaigner in Brazil. “For us, it is a confirmation of how precious the Amazon forest is and how we have to preserve it,” he told Al Jazeera. “The scientific community is going to speak out with this new discovery and it will be important in the whole conservation debate.”

Lyari search op strikes arms, torture cells

KARACHI: Search operation launched by the Rangers in crime corners of Lyari, has concluded, Geo News reported Sunday.

According to the sources, anti terrorism squad of Rangers and Rangers commandos cordoned off areas suspected to be infested with criminal vermin.

Afshani Gali, Eido Lane, Singho Lane, Gul Muhammd Lane areas were cleansed during the operation. Several suspects were detained as well.

A sizable cache of automatic weapons/ammunition was recovered in the course of search operation. These included nine sub-machine guns hundreds of rounds.

Rangers’ spokesman also revealed that they have found torture cells equipped with all sorts of instruments of torment.

However, the official report maybe made available to the media this evening or tomorrow in a press conference by the Rangers.

On the whole it’s being seen as a successful operation but it did ran into those hitches that are an integral part of such operations.

This time Rangers entered the area employing a different strategy as a few days ago during a drive of the same sort a mob of angry local residents had tried to block Rangers way into those no-go areas.

This time all the exits and entrances were blocked and no one was allowed to go in or out without being inquired

Mirza resigns from cabinet, party posts

KARACHI: Senior Pakistan People's Party leader Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has announced to resign from all party/government posts, Geo News reported Sunday.

Addressing media at Karachi Press Club he blamed Interior Minister Rehman Malik for siding with the killers, misleading the party leadership, and contorting facts. He declared him an enemy of Pakistan

Malik is a compulsive liar and responsible for Karachi bloodshed, Mirza said, adding Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) haven’t got a real mandate in Karachi or Hyderabad, they extort votes on gunpoint.

Before starting the press conference he swore on the Holy Quran to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

Senior provincial minister Dr Zulfiqar is Vice President of PPP Sindh and also a Central Executive Committee member besides a close aide of President Asif Zardari.

Indian anti-graft activist ends fast after 13 days

 NEW DELHI: Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare ended his 13-day hunger strike on Sunday, a day after parliament agreed to consider his demands over proposed legislation.

Hazare took sips of coconut water mixed with honey on a stage in New Delhi in front of tens of thousands of cheering supporters, before delivering a speech broadcast live on national television.

"This protest has been a lesson for the world," Hazare told the crowds after his peaceful campaign tapped into massive support among India's urban middle classes and rural poor.
"Today corruption is increasing because power is centralised in the government ministries."

Arvind Kejriwal, a senior organiser of Hazare's protest, told the rally that the fast had been an expression of the nation's public feelings against corruption.

"We are thankful to the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh), he showed remarkable leadership yesterday in the parliament. We are also thankful to all the parliamentarians for listening to the voice of the common man," he said.

"The entire country had poured out on the streets, their anger over a corrupt system was boiling over."

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said that Anna would be taken to hospital for 2-3 days after he breaks his fast. "He has not been eating since the past 12 days, he has to be closely checked and monitored," said Balram Gupta, a member of Naresh Trehan's team. He might remain in the hospital for a couple of days due to his deteriorating health condition, he added. 

The situation in Karachi and Balochistan, 17-member parliamentary committee

       Islamabad: Speaker National Assembly from Karachi and Balochistan, the situation for review17-member parliamentary committee is sister.Members of the committee of PPP for five,PML-N four, Muslim League (Q), three MQM LetM, JUI (F), ANP have been members of theMuslim League Functional. PPP members wereinvolved in Khurshid Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira,Noor Alam, Ayatollah Durrani, Qadir Patel NSardar Mehtab League members, KhawajaAsif, Rana Tanveer Zahid Hamid and GhausBux Maher, PML-Q members, including formerand Riaz Pirzada, MQM Haider Abbas Rizvi andSohail Mansoor members, including MuslimGod forgive League fngsnl rajr ANP slaveahmdblur, JUI (F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been included in the committee. Committee on the situation in Karachi and Balochistan in 2months to submit its report in Parliament.

ATC orders Musharraf’s assets be seized

 RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) hearing the Benazir Bhutto murder case has ordered that propterty of former president Pervez Musharraf be seized and his bank accounts be frozen, Geo News reported. 

The decision was made after a FIA report containing information regarding the assets of the former president was presented before the court. FIA officials informed the court that Musharraf owned a farm house in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad and a plot in the Gwadar Housing Society. While his bank accounts contained Rs 80.90 million. 

Salman Khan to be treated for nerve disorder

 MUMBAI: Actor Salman Khan is heading out to the US next week to treat a nerve disorder he was diagnosed with earlier this month.

Khan, 45, whose ‘Bodyguard’ opens in cinemas next week, will be in the US for treatment after the film's release.

"It's a non-surgical procedure and doctors have told I'll be back to work within four days," Khan told.

The actor had been suffering from pain in his jaw and the condition was recently diagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia.

"It's been happening for the past 4-5 years and just got diagnosed this month," Khan told.

Khan is known for his box-office dominance over the Eid weekend. His biggest hits in the last few years have come during this period, with ‘Dabanng’ being 2010’s blockbuster.

Khan is also scheduled to do a number of big-ticket films, including ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ with Katrina Kaif. With the success of ‘Ready’ in June, he cemented his place as a star who can pretty much guarantee box-office success with his charisma.

Pakistan cricket team arrives in Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO: The Pakistan cricket team will begin its tour of Zimbabwe on Sunday with a match against Zimbabwe XI, Geo News reported Saturday. The cricket team led by Misbah-ul-Haq will practice at the Bulawayo stadium on Saturday. Pakistan will play one Test against Zimbabwe which will begin from the first of September. Three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) will be played on the 8, 11 and 14 of September while two Twenty20 matches will be played on 16 and 18 September in Harare.

ADB ready to finance replacement of obsolete power distribution system

 ISLAMABAD: Asian Development Bank (ADB) is considering various options in a positive direction to finance multi-billion dollars Diamer Bhasha Dam project.

ADB Director General Jaun Miranda, while talking to the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar, told that ADB wants to help Pakistan in the energy sector and in this context besides financing of the construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam, it was ready to provide guarantee for energy generation projects also.

ADB is already providing financial assistance for revamping of the electricity distribution system, while it is ready to provide help for replacement of the obsolete electricity distribution system also besides financing the distribution of the 30 million energy savers all across the country, which would help save 1,000 MW of electricity. 

25 security forces personnel killed in Chitral attack: ISPR

 RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army has confirmed that at least 25 security forces personnel including 16 Frontier Scouts were killed when 200-300 terrorists from Afghanistan attacked seven FC posts in Chitral early Saturday morning. 

20 terrorists were killed when security forces retaliated, however two border posts were overrun by the terrorists. According to an ISPR press release, reinforcements have been sent to beef up the security posts.

Reportedly terrorists from Swat, Dir and Bajur organised by Fazlullah and Maulvi Faqir Muhammed with local Afghans attacked security forces in Chitral. Sine their expulsion from their native areas, the terrorists have organised themselves in Kunar and Nooristan provinces with the support of local Afghan authorities.

Due to scanty presence of NATO and ANA forces along the Pak-Afghan border, the terrorists are using these areas as safe havens and have mounted repeated attacks against own security forces posts and isolated villages.

It is pertinent to mention that since last year accurate intelligence about large concentration of terrorists from Pakistan and their local Afghan supporters in Kunar and Nooristan provinces has been shared with NATO and Afghan authorities but no worth while action has been taken against the terrorists and attacks against Pakistani border posts have continued with impunity.

baby in namaz

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