US will accept Iran civilian nuclear program: report

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has told Iran the United States would accept Tehran having a civilian nuclear program if the Islamic state can prove it is not seeking atomic weapons, the Washington Post said Friday.

Obama sent such a message to Tehran via Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who delivered it to Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei last week, said the newspaper's foreign affairs columnist David Ignatius.

"President Obama has signaled Iran that the United States would accept an Iranian civilian nuclear program if Supreme leader Ali Khamenei can back up his recent public claim that his nation 'will never pursue nuclear weapons'," said Ignatius.

"A few days before traveling to Iran, Erdogan had held a two-hour meeting with Obama in Seoul, in which they discussed what Erdogan would tell the ayatollah about the nuclear issue and Syria," he wrote.

The United States said Thursday that it still expected Iran to hold talks with six world powers on the Islamic republic's disputed nuclear program to go ahead next week, despite a dispute on the venue being Istanbul or Baghdad.

According to Ignatius, Obama asked Erdogan to tell Khamenei "that the Iranians should realize that time is running out for a peaceful settlement and that Tehran should take advantage of the current window for negotiations."

However, "Obama didn't specify whether Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium domestically as part of civilian program the United States would endorse. That delicate issue evidently would be left for the negotiations."

Turkey has told Iran it remains ready to host the talks between Iran and the P5+1 group, Iran's Al-Alam television station reported Friday, but the Islamic republic has said it wanted the meeting held in Baghdad or China instead.

Iran last held talks with the six powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- in January 2011 with no results.

Ignatius added that "the challenge for negotiators is whether it's possible to turn Khamenei's public rhetoric into a serious and verifiable commitment not to build a bomb." (AFP)

NATO fuel supplier blaze kills 7 in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR: Seven people were burnt to death in southern Afghanistan on Friday when a fuel tanker supplying a NATO base crashed and set their vehicle on fire, officials said.

Both the security chief of Panjwayi district in Kandahar and the provincial

police chief said there was no insurgent activity at the time, but residents

told AFP the tanker was attacked by Taliban using rocket-propelled grenades.

A US soldier serving in NATO's US-led International Security Assistance

Force (ISAF) was charged with 17 counts of murder last month following a

killing spree in the same district on March 11.

Sardar Mohammad, Panjwayi's security chief, told AFP: "A fuel tanker supplying fuel for ISAF overturned and caught fire, and simultaneously a civilian minivan was passing nearby also set ablaze."

Seven people were killed and three others injured, he said, who were taken to hospital.

Kandahar police chief Abdul Raziq confirmed the death toll, telling AFP: "This fuel tanker was coming from the city of Kandahar to Panjwayi district at high speed.

"On its way this tanker overturned and caught fire," he said. "A civilian minivan was passing on the way and the vehicle was also set ablaze."

Quetta: Four out of seven missing persons produced in SC

QUETTA: Four out of remaining seven missing persons were recovered and presented in the Supreme Court’s Quetta Registry today (Friday) after the Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry ordered for their recovery,

The four recovered persons are Javed, Hazar Khan, Mazar Khan and Malik Sher while three are still missing named Mir Jan, Gul Mir and Amir Jan.

The three-member bench, headed by the chief justice, resumed hearing of the case on the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan at the Quetta Registry today.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the CJ directed the Balochistan Inspector General of Police, Rao Amin Hashim, to lodge an FIR in consultation with the provincial minister for home against those ministers who were involved in kidnapping for ransom incidents. ‘If three ministers, who are involved in kidnapping for ransom, are arrested by the evening, then everything would be fine in the province,’ the CJ observed.

About the statement of provincial minister for home, the CJ remarked that previously, the home minister had given a statement about the involvement of some ministers in the kidnapping incidents and added that now the minister had termed it as a general incidence. He directed the IG Police to dig out the matter and find out the names of ministers who were involved in the kidnapping incidents and lodge FIRs against them.

About the seven persons missing from the Saryab Road, Quetta, the CJ said that out of the 10 missing persons on March 1, 2012, three had returned to their homes whereas seven were still missing and directed the IG Police to produce the seven people before the court on Friday (today). The CJ said if the seven people were not produced before the court on Friday morning, then the IG Police, along with all police officials, would be suspended.

About the police failure in curbing the crimes, the CJ said that if the Balochistan IG Police, Rao Amin Hashim, really wanted to maintain the law and order in the province, he could do so, and if he could not do that, he should better go home.

The chief justice directed the deputy attorney general to summon the attorney general because the name of Frontier Corps (FC) was being used in connection with the mutilated bodies. Similarly, the bench has asked for an explanation on the issue of mutilated bodies found in different parts of the province from the Inspector General of FC, Balochistan, in this regard.

Underlining the need for a solution to the Balochistan issue, the CJ said it was necessary to conduct the local bodies elections. The Chief Justice remarked that all the four provincial governments were violating the Constitution by not holding the local bodies polls.

Earlier, Balochistan Home Secretary Naseebullah Khan Bazi informed the apex court that 359 mutilated bodies had been recovered from different parts of Balochistan since 2010. The court ordered the arrest of persons involved in the killing of these people. The CJ remarked that nobody had the right to take the life of anybody.

Earlier, as the proceedings of the case were being conducted, the CJ showed his displeasure over the absence of attorney general and summoned him to appear in the court today.

Peshawar: 12 terrorists arrested from Tehkal

PESHAWAR: Sensitive organizations during an operation arrested twelve terrorists from the vicinity of Tehkal police station,  reported Friday.

According to sources, the agencies carried out a search operation in Tehkal area of Peshawar and arrested 12 terrorists. Suicide jackets and explosives were recovered from their possession.

The held suspects are from Afghanistan and were shifted to undisclosed location for investigation, sources added.

Hafiz Saeed is Pakistan's internal matter: PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Gilani said on Thursday that Hafiz Saeed was Pakistan's internal matter. Prime Minister Gilani was addressing the joint session of Parliament during which he called upon the US to provide concrete evidence against Saeed.

“Our judiciary is free and will make its own evaluation,” Gilani said.

The United States has announced a $10 million reward for credible evidence against Hafiz Saeed who is alleged to be the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks.

Speaking about future relations with the US, the Prime Minister informed Parliament that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security was busy finalizing proposals.

When asked what would be the agenda of President Zardari’s visit to India, Gilani responded that the President was traveling to Ajmer to fulfill the wishes of the Late Benazir Bhutto.

KSE ends lower, sheds 113 points

ISLAMABAD: The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) benchmark 100-share index ended down 0.82 percent, or 113.83 points, at 13831.47 points, capping a recent rally which pushed the market to a four-year high on Wednesday.

Stocks closed lower on Thursday, weighed down by banking shares hit by rumours of arise in the tax covering their sector.

One of the biggest casualties was the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), whose shares fell 5 percent to 46.93 rupees.

"There was talk today that the banking sector's tax rate maybe increased from 35 percent to 40 percent, so banking stocks, especially NBP, were hit," said an analyst at the JS Global financial services company.

Trading volume rose to 457.9 million shares, compared with 409.3 million shares traded on Wednesday.

The rupee ended slightly weaker at 90.54/64 to the dollar, compared with Wednesday's close of 90.30/35.

Overnight rates in the money market stayed flat at 9.10 percent, after falling to that level on Wednesday from Tuesday's close of 9.75 percent because of sustained liquidity. (Reuters)

SSP Malir survives suicide attack; 4 killed

KARACHI: Four people including two policemen were killed while 19 others were injured when a suicide bomber targeted a police official at Malir Halt area of Karachi on Thursday,

The banned outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility of the attack.

According to police sources, a bomber rammed an explosives-laded motorbike into a police Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) at Malir Halt.

"The attack was against me. I was moving with my squad in Malir Halt district when the explosion took place. I am unhurt, but some of my men have been injured," Rao Anwar, SSP Malir said while talking to Geo News correspondent Zille Haider.

He claimed to have been threatened for a month by "unknown terrorists".

"It was a suicide attack," police official Tahir Naveed said.

"The attacker was killed in the blast and the body in the hospital is suspected to be his," he added.

Rescue teams reached the spot and kicked off relief efforts while police and Rangers cordoned off the area.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier on Thursday morning, 6-8 unidentified armed men gunned down three policemen including an Assistant Sub Inspector at Pir Illahi Bux (PIB) Colony. They intercepted the police mobile SP-0461 and opened fired on the patrolling party.

The incident created panic in PIB colony as markets and other business activates were closed down.

Indian army movements raise 'coup fears'

NEW DEHLI: Two Indian army units that moved towards New Delhi on a January night without notifying the government raised an alarm in the capital, the Indian Express newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing several unidentified sources.

The newspaper report said the infantry unit of the 33rd Armoured Division based 150 km (90 miles) from Delhi and a unit of the airbourne 50 Para brigade based in Agra to the south reached the outskirts of Delhi before being ordered back.

Indian PM Manmohan Singh described as "alarmist" the report. These are alarmist reports and should not be taken at face value, Singh told journalists at parliament.

The army told the newspaper the units were engaged in routine training exercises to test their mobility in fog and did not need to warn the government in advance. Defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told Reuters it was not true the manoeuvres had caused alarm in the ministry.

The troop movements happened at a time of high friction between Army Chief Vijay Kumar Singh and the government. The newspaper said the accepted view is there was a breakdown in communication rather than a plot of any kind.

The military in India is not known for conspiring against the government in a region plagued by instability.

On the night in question, lookouts confirmed the two units were travelling towards Delhi, the report said.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony was informed and the government ordered police to check all vehicles on roads to Delhi as a way of slowing traffic. The defence secretary, the ministry's top civil servant, cut short a trip to Malaysia to handle the situation.

The report highlights the deep rifts and tense atmosphere in recent months between the world's second largest standing army and the government.

On January 16, the day the exercises took place, Singh took a case against the government to the Supreme Court in a row about whether he could serve another year before retiring. He later lost the case.

The army chief has since said he was offered a $2.8 million bribe and accused the defence minister of not acting on information about corruption in the forces. He also wrote a letter to the prime minister in March saying the army was not in proper shape to defend the country. The letter was leaked. (Reuters)

Solid evidence required for action against Hafiz Saeed: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office responded to the $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeed placed by the US. According to the spokesman for the

Foreign Office Abdul Basit, Pakistan will give priority to solid evidence provided against Hafiz Saeed.

Basit added that solid evidence was required to initiate legal action against Saeed. The Foreign Office spokesman emphasized that Pakistan was a democratic country with an independent judiciary and evidence against anyone required judicial scrutiny.

The United States placed a $10 million bounty on hafiz Saeed who is accused of masterminding the attacks on Mumbai.

Stable Karachi in interest of international community: British Deputy HC

KARACHI: British Deputy High Commissioner Francis Campbell said on Wednesday that peace in Karachi was not only in the interest of residents bust also the international community.

Speaking to media alongside ANP leader Senator Shahi Saeed, Campbell said: “we have a regular exchange of views about the situation in

Karachi with different political parties and interest groups.”

Prior to his meeting with Saeed, the British Deputy High Commissioner met with a delegation from the MQM.

During the meeting with MQM, Campbell discussed the security situation in Karachi and what measures were being taken to improve it.

Clinton warns of 'destabilizing' Iran options

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tuesday that a nuclear-armed Iran or a conflict over its ambitions would both destabilize the region as she pressed Tehran to make progress in key talks.

As Israel voices growing impatience over Iran, Clinton credited US sanctions with inflicting pressure on the Islamic republic but warned of the "very difficult situation that the world faces" moving forward.

"There is no clear path. We know that a nuclear-armed Iran would be incredibly destabilizing to the region and beyond. A conflict arising out of their program would also be very destabilizing," Clinton said.

"There is no way to balance this. You have two very difficult paths here," Clinton told a dinner in Norfolk, Virginia, on a day trip to visit the only NATO command in the United States.

Clinton, who traveled over the weekend to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, voiced concern that a nuclear Iran would trigger an arms race in the region.

"We're going to be looking for a way to try to convey the legitimate fears that people in the region have about what comes next. Because if Iran were ever to get a nuclear weapon, the countries in the region are going to buy their way to one as well," Clinton said.

The United States has been threatening sanctions to press other countries to stop buying Iranian oil, the country's chief money-maker, as Israel voices fears that the Islamic republic is developing a nuclear bomb.

Iranian officials insist that sensitive nuclear work is for peaceful purposes.

Iran is expected to resume talks shortly with six powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- in the first such negotiations in more than one year.

Clinton, speaking earlier Tuesday at the Virginia Military Institute, said that the talks offered a chance to resolve the nuclear row diplomatically but said that they should not be "open-ended."

"We expect to see concrete commitments from Iran that it will come clean on its nuclear program and live up to its international obligations," Clinton said. (AFP)

ZAB case golden opportunity for SC: Bilawal

NAU DERO: Chairman Pakistan People's Party, Bilawal Zardari Bhutto Tuesday termed the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reference a golden opportunity to Supreme Court 'to provide us justice', Geo News reported.

"I am confident the Supreme Court will not stand in the way. The Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference case is a golden opportunity for the Supreme Court. I expect the Supreme Court to finally provide us justice," Bilawal said while delivering a speech during the Central Executive Committee meeting of the PPP on the eve of 33rd death anniversary of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Bilawal also said that the (then) Supreme Court of Pakistan sentenced Shaheed Bhutto to death by hanging for a crime he did not commit. This judicial murder was not the first nor the last flawed decision the courts have made, he added.

"Unfortunately our courts have often stood on the wrong side of history. From the Doctrine of Necessity, to the judicial murder of Shaheed Bhutto and the continued legitimization of violations of our constitution our court shave not performed the role required of them by the constitution of Pakistan."

Later, lauding the judiciary, he said that in 2007, in the final months of the Dictatorship of the day, the courts gave us hope.

"The brave stance adopted by our judges and the support of the lawyers movement gave us hope that Pakistan would have a truly independent and impartial judiciary."

Taking a U-turn, he warned that the courts are dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of the past.

"They should resist the temptation to obey the dictation of the establishment."

"We cannot allow the court to dig up my mother’s grave and put her martyred corpse on trial."

Addressing Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, he said, "Mr. Prime Minister you will not violate Vienna convention, you will not violate the Constitution of Pakistan, you will not desecrate the graves of our martyrs."

"You (Prime Minister) may lose your office. You may lose your government but you must do what is right. There is not only the Supreme Court, there is also the court of the people and the court of history", he added.

Concluding his speech he said, "I have faith in the Pakistan Peoples Party. I have faith in democracy. I have faith in Pakistan. I have faith in you Mr. Prime Minister. You will make Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto proud. We will get justice. If not now. If not by this court. We will be vindicated in the courts of history."

Tokyo chefs swell with anger over new blowfish laws

TOKYO: With a scoop of a net Tokyo chef Naohito Hashimoto selects a poisonous blowfish, considered a delicacy in Japan, and with a few deft strokes of his gleaming knife starts the delicate process of preparing it for a customer.

In moments, Hashimoto has separated the edible parts of the fish from organs filled with a poison more deadly than cyanide.

For more than six decades, dicing blowfish in Tokyo has been the preserve of a small band of strictly regulated and licensed chefs, usually in exclusive restaurants.

But new laws coming into effect from October are opening the lucrative trade to restaurants without a license, making chefs like Hashimoto see red.

"We have spent time and money in order to obtain and use the blowfish license, but with these new rules anybody can handle blowfish even without a license," said Hashimoto, a blowfish chef for some 30 years.

"They're saying it's now okay to serve blowfish. We licensed chefs feel this way of thinking is a bit strange."

The poison known as tetrododoxin is found in parts of the blowfish, including the liver, heart, intestines and eyes, and is so intense that a tiny amount will kill. Every year there are reports of people dying after preparing blowfish at home.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says city laws covering the serving of blowfish should be changed to reflect changing times and hope that relaxing the rules will cut prices and bring Tokyo in line with the rest of the nation.

"Outside of Tokyo, the regulations for blowfish are even more relaxed and yet there are hardly any poison-related accidents," said Hironobu Kondo, an official at the city's Food Control Department.

"There is the hope that the number of restaurants with unlicensed chefs serving blowfish will rise, and that blowfish as an ingredient will be used not only for traditional Japanese foods but also others such as Chinese and Western foods."

A full course meal of blowfish, known as fugu in Japanese, features delicacies such as blowfish tempura, slices of raw fish thin enough to see through fanned out across a plate like chrysanthemum petals, and toasted fins in cups of hot sake.

But the meal is far from cheap, as diners pay for the safety of a licensed chef. At Hashimoto's restaurant, a meal costs at least 10,000 yen ($120) a person.

Though thrill seeking diners are reputed to seek out chefs who leave just enough of the poison to make the lips tingle, blowfish professionals scoff at this as urban legend, noting that ingesting even that much of the poison would be hazardous.

Apprentice blowfish chefs must train with a veteran for a minimum of two years before they can take rigorous written and practical exams. In Tokyo, the exam fee runs to 17,900 yen.

Customers outside a Tokyo sushi restaurant, one of the places where blowfish could be served under the new rules, said there was no substitute for the skill of a trained chef.

"Cooking blowfish is an art form that requires technique and skills," said screenwriter Shoji Imai. "That's why we pay good money for blowfish."

Hashimoto's years of training means it takes him just two minutes to gut a blowfish, and he says there is no substitute for this kind of experience.

"I don't want people to forget that you can actually die from eating blowfish," he said. "I feel the government's awareness of this has diminished." (Reuters)

13 killed in Gilgit and Chillas; Army summoned

GILGIT: Thirteen people have been killed in ongoing violent incidents in Gilgit and Chillas areas,

According to official sources, armed men offloaded passengers from a bus and opened fire in Chillas.Nine people were killed while six buses were also set ablaze.

Earlier, curfew was imposed in Gilgit when four people were killed and 45 injured in clashes following a hand grenade attack.

In the latest development, the ISPR states that the Army has been summoned to Gilgit to control the law and order situation.

According to sources, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat was observing a shutter down strike on Tuesday when unknown men hurled hand grenades at Ittehad Chowk that injured two policemen and a civilian.

The grenade attack initiated clashes that later killed four people and injured 45 others. The injured were shifted to District Headquarter Hospital.

Different roads were blocked by burning tyres and incidents of aerial firing were also reported.

Witnesses said that the district administration and law enforcement agencies were not present to control the violent situation where as fear gripped the entire area after hostility

US has problem with movement against drone attacks, Nato supply: Hafiz

ISLAMABAD: Hafiz Saeed said that the US government had a problem with the Defence of Pakistan movement against drone attacks and the restoration of Nato Supply

Saeed was speaking to Hamid Mir on ‘Capital Talk’ and responded to reports that the US had placed a $10 million bounty on him.

“I am living my life in the open and the US can contact me whenever they want,” Saeed said.

Saeed added that his presence had never caused any problems for Pakistan.

Hafiz Saeed responded to allegations of masterminding the Mumbai attacks, stating that the Supreme Court had cleared him and his organization of any wrongdoing.

“The US government is listening to the Indian lobby and not making its own decisions.”

Saeed also condemned the attacks in Mumbai.

When asked about what his reaction would be if the US conducting a raid similar to the covert operation against Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Saeed responded that he did not fear the US.

OGRA partially cuts back increase in POL prices

ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has made a reduction in the recent increase in prices of petroleum products through a notification issued tonight, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to the notification, the price of petrol has been decreased by Rs2.32 per litre to Rs103.36. Earlier, the rate of petrol had been increased by Rs8.02 to Rs105.08. Therefore, the partial cut back leaves the total increase in petrol price to Rs5.70 per litre.

The price of diesel has been slashed by Rs1.16 per litre to Rs107. After the earlier increase of Rs4.70 the price of diesel had jumped to Rs108.10 per litre. With the reduction of Rs1.16, the total increase in the rate of diesel has now shrunk to Rs3.54 per litre.

The earlier increase in price of Kerosene oil has also been reduced by Rs1.74 per lire to Rs3.55, making its per litre price Rs99.95. Earlier, Kerosene oil had been made expensive by Rs5.29 to Rs101.69.

The revised prices have been made applicable from 12:00 AM, April 4.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Finance approved the decrease in prices of petroleum products following a country-wide condemnation of the staggering rise made in POL and CNG prices on April 1.

Power shortfall climbs to 6000MW

LAHORE: Power shortfall has shot up to 6000MW, causing massive increase in loadshedding in the country, .

According to sources, PEPCO needed 35000 tonnes of furnace oil per day but presently it did not receive the required quantity of fuel as well as funds.

Meanwhile, power distribution companies including LESCO have started loadshedding in industrial zones as well. Notification of six-hour power loadshedding has been issued for even for the independent feeder in the industrial zone.

PEPCO sources informed that loadshedding is being carried out in Lahore every other hour.

The total country-wide demand of power stands at 14,000 mega watts.

Disneyland Paris celebrates 20th anniversary

PARIS: Disneyland Paris has celebrated its 20th birthday in spectacular style, with an extravaganza replete with celebrities, parades and a new state-of-the-art show.

The resort 35 kilometres east of Paris has a lot to celebrate. After overcoming a rocky childhood, the Magic Kingdom now makes up a chunk of the French economy and of Disney's own revenues.

Mexican actress Salma Hayek and retired French soccer great Zinedine Zidane led celebrations at the park featuring a high-energy projection of Disney cartoon characters onto Sleeping Beauty's castle crowning Main Street, USA. Also starring in the event, marked with fireworks and water displays, were Peter Pan and other Disney characters.

Five years ago, the resort finally started to make operating profits. Building on its fortune, Disneyland Paris became the most visited tourist destination in Europe in 2008. It broke its record for ticket sales last year, marking its 250 millionth visitor since its creation. (Monitoring Desk)

Karachi: four dead in various incidents

KARACHI: Four more people including a woman were killed in firing and other incidents in various areas of the metropolitan,

According to Police Chief Akhtar Gorchani, unidentified armed men open fire on M A Jinnah road near Light House, killing a woman. Enmity is suspected behind the incident.

In another incident, a man committed suicide as he shot himself in Pipri area of Bin Qasim Town.

Exchange of fire between two groups took place in Sikandar Goat area of Sohrab Goat, resultantly one person got killed while other was wounded. Injured man was rushed to the hospital.

A man lost his life in a road mishap near Board Office in Nazimabad.

Meanwhile, police said that local office bearer of PPP was critically injured in a firing incident that occurred in the jurisdiction of Aziz Bhatti police station. The victim has rushed to the hospital.

President of PPP Karachi Faisal Raza Abidi strongly condemned the attack.

PML-N to rally against fuel price hike: Chaudhry Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N will boycott the meeting of Parliamentary Committee on National Security to be held on Monday and stage a rally on April 4 in Rawalpindi to mark its protest against the whopping increase in fuel prices and other anti-people steps of the government.

This was stated by the Opposition Leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who termed the latest increase in POL and CNG prices as a clear manifestation of the government's faulty policies.

In connection with staging the protest, he said the party leadership would hold consultations before contacting other parties to form a future strategy.

"The latest hike in POL prices is unacceptable," he said, wondering as to what kind of revenge Zardari's government was taking from the people.

He alleged that the recent increase in fuel prices was made for rulers' corruption and their luxurious life. "What more do the rulers intend to loot from the already empty pockets of the people?" he regretted.

Chaudhry Nisar said a rally would be taken out on April 4 against what he termed the government's anti-people decision and called upon the people to come onto the streets to stage their protest.

POL Price Hike: Traders threaten civil disobedience

KARACHI: Traders in Karachi, Lahore and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have rejected the massive hike in the prices of petroleum products and have threatened to take severe action if it is not withdrawn.

Setting a three day deadline for the government to withdraw the hike, Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa traders say if their demand is not met then they will protest with the first phase being civil disobedience.

The Lahore Chamber has also warned the government that they will close industries if the hike is not withdrawn within 72 hours.

The price of petrol was increased by Rs8.02 and is now selling at a staggering Rs105.68 per liter while the price of diesel has risen to Rs108.16.

Why Waste our Best Allrounder?

He is a much more accomplished batsman than the stylish Shahid Afridi. And he has been a much better bowler than him. But still he has been thrown out of the team more than once. And Afridi—an average allrounder at best—continues to play.


In my opinion, Abdul Razzaq has been the best one-day all rounder Pakistan has ever had. He averages close to 30 with the bat and the number of his bowling’s victims has always been higher than the number of matches he has played. Afridi averages near 24—six runs less than Abdul’s which is quite a big difference—and his wickets tally has only recently exceeded the number of matches he has played.


The then coach Waqar Younis played the most important role in ousting this talented guy from the team. He kept trying to throw him out of the team before the last year’s World Cup, but Abdul Razzaq performed so well repeatedly that he failed in his intentions.


At the Oval against England in 2010, he first made 31 off just 24 balls and then took two wickets to help Pakistan win by 23 runs. At Lord’s, he made 44 off just 20 balls near the end of Pakistan’s innings to give Pakistan a much higher total than was anticipated. Pakistan won by 38 runs.


Then, against South Africa in UAE, he played the best one-day international innings the world has ever seen. He made 109 off just 71 balls, scoring 63 of the last 65 runs required. The performance forced even Waqar to stand up and applaud him.


Then in the Christchurch T20 against New Zealand, he scored 34 runs off 11 balls and took three wickets to guide Pakistan to a 103 runs victory.


But after the World Cup, Waqar Younis succeeded in his efforts although the allrounder’s performance was not unimpressive. He was asked to bowl less than 40 overs, but still he managed to take six wickets, including two at a crucial stage in the match against the Australians. He was sent to bat at number eight although his batting credentials warranted a much higher position. Even at that position he delivered. He made a half century against New Zealand when everybody else had failed. He also scored 20 not out to help Pakistan defeat Australia after the top order had fallen.


His services were grossly underutilized in that tournament, but Waqar finally managed to throw him out. He was not considered for the tour to West Indies.


He was brought back for the one-day series against Sri Lanka a few months back, but again ousted despite giving decent performances.


Two questions must be asked of the selectors: is he old enough to be discarded? Has his performance been so lowly as to have necessitated his removal? There is one answer to both questions. A big no.


He is only 31. He can play for a long time to come. And his performance has not been bad. The selectors have acted foolishly by dropping a well performing allrounder. His presence bolsters Pakistan’s batting and increases bowling options.


It is true that he is now not as fast with the ball as he used to be. But that is no issue because his medium gentle medium pacers are enough for one-day cricket. He has been taking wickets even with a reduced speed.
 

His batting potential has not been fully realized. He should be given chances to bat up the order. Number eight is not the position where a batsman with an average of 30 should bat.


It is time the selectors included this hugely talented allrounder in the team for one-day and T20 matches. If he chooses to settle in a foreign country, as have done many other Pakistani cricketers, the loss will be Pakistan’s.

Petrol price hiked by Rs8, CNG up to Rs12

ISLAMABAD: Government has once again increased the price of petrol by a staggering Rs8.02 and diesel Rs4.70 per litre while CNG has been made expensive by up to Rs11.98 per kilo, Geo News reported Saturday.

According to the notification, the revised price of petrol has jumped to Rs105.68 a litre and that of diesel to Rs108.16.

The price of light diesel goes up by Rs5.45 to Rs99.69 per litre; HOBC by Rs8.94 to Rs135.81 and the rate of kerosene oil jacked up by Rs5.29 to Rs101.69 a litre.

The revised rates of petroleum products have become effective from 12 AM, Sunday (April 1).

The price of CNG has been raised by Rs Rs9.93 to Rs80.97 per kilogram in Sindh and central Punjab while its rate in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also in Islamabad and Rawalpindi by Rs11.98 to Rs89.10 per kg.

Violence claims two more lives in Karachi

KARACHI: Two more people were killed while two others wounded in various incidents of violence and target killing in the metropolis, Geo news reported.

According to the police, two dead bodies were recovered from Martin Quarter. The deceased were identified as Zakir and Falim which were taken to hospital where it was revealed that Fahim was still alive. Medical treatment is being given to him.

In Mominabad, unidentified armed men, riding on motorbike, opened fire near Badar Chowk, killing a man. The deceased was identified as Aamir Ali.

Meanwhile, another man, named Ameen baba, sustained injuries as he resisted dacoits in Soldier Bazar #2. He was rushed to hospital.

Karachi: seven suspects detained from Qasba

KARACHI: Seven suspects have been detained as police launched raid in Bukhari Colony area of Qasba. Weapons were also recovered from their possession, police official said.

According to SP West Pir Farid Jan Sarhandi, the detainees were allegedly involved in Banaras incident which claimed four lives.

He said that police along with commandos launched operation in Bukhari Colony area of Qasba, apprehending seven suspects and recovering four TT pistols from their possession.

The suspects have been taken to undisclosed location for interrogation, SP West added.