Ban imposed on carrying licensed firearms in Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh government has imposed a ban on carrying licensed weapons across the province with immediate effect,

Home minister, Manzoor Wassan, Wednesday said that only a special exemption granted by the ministry would be required to carry licensed arms henceforth.

Violence erupts in Karachi after killing of MQM worker

KARACHI: A day of mourning is being observed by the MQM on Tuesday against the killing of their party worker and his brother in the PIB Colony area of the city.

Following the killing, violence erupted across the city as over three dozen vehicles were torched and seven people including a child were killed.

According to the police, MQM sector member Mansoor Mukhtar, his brother Masood Mukhtar and his wife were targeted when attackers entered their house and opened fire. Mansoor and Masood succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

The post mortem of Mansoor was conducting at the Abbasi Shaheed hospital and according to doctors he was shot four times.

Over three dozen vehicles including a police mobile were torched in different areas including Malir Halt, Central Jail, Teen Hatti, Kala Board, Abul Hassan Isphani Road and Shah Faisal Colony.

Tyres were set ablaze at Jamshed Road after riots where unknown men forced shop owners to close down their business.

Aerial firing was also reported in various areas including Liaqatabad, Malir City, Johar Chowrangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Korangi.

Schools were shut due to the wave of violence as markets and petrol stations remained closed. Residents faced further distress as there was no public transport on the roads.

The Police, Rangers and FC did not take any action when these incidents were taking place.

Funeral of slain MQM activist held

KARACHI: Funeral prayer of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activist Mansoor Mukhtar and his brother Masood Mukhtar was offered here, Geo News reported.

MQM leaders Raza Haroon, Saghir Ansari and large number of party workers participated in the funeral.

The burial will take place at Yasinabad Shuhda graveyard.

Tension gripped the city after MQM activist was shot dead in PIB Colony area early on Tuesday morning.

Several arson incidents were reported after the killing of activist. Over three dozen vehicles were torched in different areas including Malir Halt, Central Jail, Teen Hatti, Kala Board, Abul Hassan Isphani Road and Shah Faisal Colony.

Tyres were set ablaze at Jamshed Road after riots where unknown men forced the shop owners to close down their business.

Aerial firing was also reported in various areas including Liaqatabad, Malir City, Johar Chowrangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Korangi.

On the other hand, the coordination committee of MQM has announced mourning over the killing of their party members.

Lahore loadshedding protests: LESCO office attacked

LAHORE: Protests were held in several areas of the city against unannounced loadshedding. Protesters burnt tyres, blocked traffic and attacked a LESCO office.

In the Shahdra area, protestors blocked traffic arriving and leaving Lahore. Protestors chanted slogans against the government and traffic was blocked at the GT Road area for over two hours.

Protests were also held in Achara, Lakshmi Chowk and Shadman areas. In Achara, protestors also attacked a LESCO office, broke windows while destroying furniture and equipment.

Loadshedding protest in Lahore turns violent, one killed

LAHORE: A man was shot dead in Daroghawala area of Lahore during protest against loadshedding on Monday, 

Protesters were holding a demonstration against prolonged hours of loadshedding in Daroghawala area of Lahore and set ablaze a petrol pump. The guards present at the petrol pump opened indiscriminate fire on the protesters that killed one man.

The furious crowd then burnt tyres and blocked the road while protesters carrying sticks were patrolling the area.

No action from police was witnessed after the incident, sources added.

Prime Minister Gilani, President Obama hold informal meeting

SEOUL: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held an informal meeting with US President Barak Obama on Monday.

PM Gilani informed the US president that Pak-US relations that parliament would decide on the future course of ties between the two nations.

President Obama told Prime Minister Gilani that he respected the recommendations of parliament.

The two leaders are in Seoul attending the Nuclear Security Summit. The summit aims to curb the threat of nuclear terrorism and is a follow up to an inaugural summit hosted by Obama in Washington in 2010.

The White House has confirmed that President Obama and Prime Minister Gilani will meet on Tuesday after the Nuclear Security Summit.

Asia Cup: ACC rejects BCB's final over plea

KARACHI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) plea to review the final over of the Asia Cup final between Pakistan and Bangladesh, 
ACC Chief Executive Ashraf-ul Haq told Geo News that the field umpires didn't report about the incident and as per laws their note of concern was necessary. 'The chapter is now closed for the ACC.'

The council has also informed both the boards about the decision, the CE said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday expressed disappointment with Bangladesh for considering appealing an incident in the last over of the Asia Cup final which they believe cost them the match.

Bangladesh Saturday said it would appeal to the ACC to review the last over, accusing Pakistani paceman Aizaz Cheema of deliberately blocking batsman Mahmudullah Riyad from taking a second run.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh in a thrilling final on Thursday by two runs to lift the four-nation Asia Cup.

PCB director Intikhab Alam called Bangladesh's stance "disappointing".

It's really sad and disappointing to hear the statement from the BCB official," Alam said.

"It was a thrilling final and everyone praised Bangladesh for their fight and their decision to appeal is just an after thought after the result.

"The fact of the matter is that no match umpire of referee complained about this to Pakistan management and Bangladesh's complain will spoil a wonderful final which everyone enjoyed," said Alam.

BCB said it would seek five penalty runs for deliberate obstruction and a reversal of the result in their favour.

"We have seen video footage of the incident repeatedly. It is clear that Cheema blocked Riyad deliberately," Enayet Hossain Siraj, chairman of the BCB operations committee, told reporters.

"We will lodge a written appeal to the ACC very soon and will also give a copy to the International Cricket Council."

Bangladesh is currently considering an invitation to tour Pakistan for a limited over series next month.

They sent a delegation to assess security arrangements in Pakistan for the tour but said a final decision will only be made by the country's government.

Should Bangladesh go they will be the first Test playing nation to tour Pakistan since terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore three years ago.

The attacks, which left eight people dead and seven visiting players and an assistant coach wounded, suspended all international cricket in Pakistan as teams refused to tour the troubled country because of security fears.

Nuclear summit to begin under N. Korean shadow

SEOUL: US President Barack Obama and dozens of other world leaders will begin a summit Monday on curbing the threat of nuclear terrorism, but North Korea's atomic plans will be in focus on the sidelines.

The two-day meeting in South Korea is a follow-up to an inaugural summit in Washington in 2010 hosted by Obama, which kick-started efforts to lock up fissile material around the globe that could make thousands of bombs.

Obama announced on the eve of the Seoul event, which will gather leaders or top officials from 53 nations, that Ukraine had fulfilled a pledge made two years ago to remove all highly enriched uranium from its territory.

"I believe it is a preview of the kind of progress we are going to see over the next two days in confronting one of the most urgent challenges to global security -- the security of the world's nuclear weapons and preventing nuclear terrorism," Obama said.

While North Korea's nuclear programme is not officially on the agenda in Seoul, it is expected to be intensely discussed on the sidelines as world leaders take advantage of the opportunity of face-to-face meetings.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks after North Korea announced it would launch a long-range rocket in April.

The nuclear-armed North says its rocket will merely put a peaceful satellite into orbit. But the United States and many other countries believe the launch is intended to test a long-range missile that could one day deliver an atomic warhead.

Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak presented a united front against North Korea during a press conference on Sunday, warning it again against the rocket launch and further "provocative" actions.

"North Korea will achieve nothing by threats or by provocations," Obama said.

Lee added: "President Obama and I have agreed to respond sternly to any provocations and threats by the North and to continually enhance the firm South Korea-US defence readiness."

Obama also sought to step up pressure on China, North Korea's chief international ally, which has declined to speak out strongly against Pyongyang in relation to the planned rocket launch.

"My suggestion to China is that how they communicate their concerns to North Korea should probably reflect the fact that the approach they have taken over the last several decades has not led to a fundamental shift in North Korea's behaviour," Obama said.

Obama is scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday, and separately with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

The United States, China and Russia, along with Japan and South Korea, are involved in long-running and currently stalled negotiations with the North aimed at convincing it to give up its atomic ambitions.

Iran's nuclear ambitions are similarly not on the agenda in Seoul but the leaders of the world powers may take the opportunity of their face-to-face meetings to discuss US-led efforts to curtail Tehran's programme.

Experts have acknowledged major progress on the fissile material front since the Washington summit.

They point to former Soviet republic Kazakhstan securing over 13 tonnes of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium since then, while Chile eliminated its entire HEU stockpile.

The United States and Russia also signed a protocol under which each will dispose of 34 tonnes of plutonium -- enough for 17,000 nuclear weapons.

But experts say much more must be done to end an apocalyptic threat. (AFP)

Firing outside Mehfil-e-Mushaira in Karachi

KARACHI: Panic gripped the participants when unidentified armed men opened firing outside the venue of Mehfil-e-Mushaira (poetic symposium), organized by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) near II Talvar in Clifton, Geo News reported.

The participants of the gathering saved their lives by lying down on the ground.

According to police, armed men in three cars opened firing outside the Mushaira venue. An accused was injured in police retaliation and later succumbed to injuries. He has been identified as Kamran, resident of Shah Rasool colony, Clifton.

The situation is under control, the police said.

Will halve corruption in 9 days after coming to power: Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader, Imran Khan, has claimed that his party would halve the corruption in Pakistan within nine days after coming to power, Geo News reported.

He was talking to newsmen after a party meeting here.

Khan said that the demands for a “PTI Children’s Wing” were growing louder and louder making a case for the formation of one.

To a question, he said” Whether the party survives or not, we will elect all the office bearers for all the positions through vote, adding there will be no direct appointments”.

He also told the media that in Sunday’s meeting the party had settled all the "differences" and now it was rift-free.

Khan also revealed that the details of the members’ assets would be posted on the party’s website.

He once again condemned the leading political parties of the country for their silent agreements in looting the country’s wealth.

“ Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are one, they are on board Samhjota Express”, said he.

Manmohan Singh leaves for Seoul

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Saturday morning set off on a three-day official visit of the Republic of Korea, according to Indian media.

During his visit, Dr Singh will attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul where President Barack Obama among leaders or senior officials from 53 nations will attend the Summit, with Interpol, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Union and the UN also taking part.

Indian PM will also hold bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

France defends handling of operation to catch gunman

PARIS: French officials rejected charges that intelligence failures let a young man kill seven people, as the crack police unit that finally killed the gunman faced criticism of their operation.

Several security experts in Israel were scathing of the French police's handling of the siege, with one specialist calling it a disgrace.

French investigators meanwhile were trying to establish whether Mohamed Merah, who murdered three Jewish children, a trainee rabbi and three soldiers in three separate attacks, had worked alone or with accomplices.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Friday that security officials had known Merah, who died in a hail of police bullets.

But there was no reason to suspect he was planning attacks, he said.

The intelligence services "did their job perfectly well. They identified Mohamed Merah when he made his trips," he told French radio.

Intelligence agents "watched him long enough to come to the conclusion that there was no element, no indication, that this was a dangerous man who would one day pass from words to acts," said Fillon.

The head of France's DCRI domestic intelligence agency, Bernard Squarcini, told Le Monde newspaper there was little more that security services could have done to prevent Merah's atrocities.

Merah, 23, had claimed to be an Al-Qaeda member who killed to avenge Palestinian children and punish France for sending troops to Afghanistan.

An Al-Qaeda linked group, Jund al-Khilafah, claimed responsibility on jihadist websites for Merah's killings.

But Squarcini said Merah had not followed the usual path taken by extremists. (AFP)

Salala raid: US decides not to take action against soldiers

WASHINGTON: US military has decided not to take action against those service members involved Salala check post attack, that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26, 2011.

According to a US newspaper, the US military has finalized its second inquiry report in which it has held Pakistan army personnel responsible for the incident.

The US military officials have said that according to the 2nd inquiry report, there is no evidence of negligence by the US soldiers, adding that they attacked in self-defence, therefore, no disciplinary action would be taken against them.

In the first report, the US had confessed to its ‘mistake’ in the attack on border post, saying that the unprovoked attack by the troops was a tactical error, and the US is focusing on learning from its mistakes in the wake of the findings of the internal probe conducted by the US military.

The Pakistan military had rejected the claims made in the first investigation report.

A NATO investigation into an air strike concluded that both alliance and Pakistani forces made mistakes in the incident.

The investigation has ascertained that a series of mistakes were made on both sides in failing to properly coordinate their locations and actions, both before the operation and during the resulting engagement, NATO said.

Pakistan has sought a full apology from President Barack Obama for the strikes. NATO and US officials have voiced regret over the incident.

It’s accountability time for plunderers: Imran Khan

It’s accountability time for plunderers: Imran Khan

MIANWALI: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader, Imran Khan Saturday said that nation honored Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, but in return they only disappointed their voters, Geo News reported.

Addressing a public gathering in Mianwali, he said it was time the usurpers of national wealth were brought to the public court of accountability.

“First of all Pakistan must break the “foreign shackles” to become a free country”, said Khan.

He said that PTI would transform Pakistan into a country envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam.

“ We would rebuild it according to Quaid-e-Azam’s true vision and the nation would be thankful of Mianwali”, said an ambitious Khan.

Condemning rising inflation, he said that the epicurean rulers have starved the masses of the country with their record corruption in the last four years.

“ Nation could neither make both ends meet nor could they find any self-respect under the unholy alliance ruling the country”, Khan said.

Mocking at Prime Minister Gilani, Khan said, he (Gilani) would rather faint before writing to Swiss government for he was his master’s true voice without any doubt.

Pak-US talks after parliament's final recommendations: Grossman

BRUSSELS: US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman has said that Washington and Islamabad will resume talks after the parliamentary committee's recommendations take its final course about how to go forward,

Talking to 'Geo News' here, Grossman said the US respected the work of Pakistani parliament and the time it is consuming to decide about how to go forward.

It may be noted here that Senator Mian Raza Rabbani had presented before the Joint Session the Parliament the report of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) for new terms of engagements with the United States and Nato.

The panel recommended that "Pakistan should seek an unconditional apology from the US for the unprovoked incident" and said "taxes and other charges must be levied on all goods importing in or transiting through Pakistan".

The committee also called for cessation of drone attacks inside the territorial borders of Pakistan and reiterated the country's commitment to the elimination of terrorism and combating extremism.

The parliamentarians will hold threadbare discussion on the recommendations to make the foreign policy more vibrant and in accordance with the aspirations of the people.

The committee has prepared a series recommendations to ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.

Enumerating the salient features of the report on national security, Raza Rabbani said that the committee in its recommendations has asserted that the country's sovereignty shall not be compromised at any cost and the relationship with the US should be based on mutual respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each others.

It said that no overt or covert operations inside Pakistan shall be tolerated.

Raza Rabbani said the report emphasizes that Pakistan's nuclear program and assets including its safety and security cannot be compromised. The US-Indo civil nuclear agreement has significantly altered the strategic balance in the region, therefore, Pakistan should seek from the US and others a similar treatment.

The report reaffirms Pakistan's commitment to the elimination of terrorism and combating extremism in pursuance of its national interest.

Three cops suspended for snatching cash

GUJRANWALA: DSP Gujranwala has suspended three police officials on charge of allegedly snatching money from a citizen, Geo News reported.

A case has also been lodged against the citizens for thrashing the policemen.

According to reports, Muhammad Ali of Gujranwala has alleged that he was his way to home on motorcycle when three policemen stopped him at Ferozwal bridge for not having number plate of his bike. They also snatched Rs10,000 cash from him.

Muhammad Ali apprised the villagers, who intercepted the policemen at People's colony and badly thrashed them.

Police officials have denied the charges, saying Muhammad Ali himself gave money to them

Meanwhile, DSP Wasim Dar has suspended the three cops after allegations were proven. A case has also been registered against the citizens involved in beating the policemen.

Obama to meet PM Gilani on Tuesday: White House

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will hold talks with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday in the South Korean capital Seoul, a statement released by the White House said.

"The meeting will be an opportunity for the United States and Pakistan to continue high-level consultations on areas of mutual interest," said the statement released by the White House on Friday.

"In particular, the president looks forward to reviewing our efforts to support an Afghan-led reconciliation process, and to pursue an end-state in the region that advances security and prosperity."

The meeting between Obama and Gilani will follow a nuclear security summit being held in Seoul.(AFP)

Soldier faces 17 murder counts in Afghan killings

WASHINGTON: Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of killing Afghan civilians in a shooting rampage in Kandahar province last week, will be charged with 17 counts of murder, a U.S. official said.

Earlier accounts of the incident, which has damaged U.S.-Afghan relations, had tallied 16 victims, including nine children and three women.

Bales, a four-tour combat veteran, will also face other charges, including attempted murder, but the official was unable to say how many additional counts there would be.

Legal proceedings would likely take place at Bales' home base, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, close to Tacoma, Washington, the U.S. official said.

Bales, 38, is being held in solitary confinement at a military detention center in Leavenworth, Kansas. His civilian defense attorney, Seattle-based John Henry Browne, was not immediately available for comment.

Earlier this week, Browne said U.S. authorities had no proof of what occurred on the evening in question, and that Bales had "no memory" of the incident.

Browne, who has defended several multiple homicide suspects, including serial killer Ted Bundy, has indicated that stress may have played a role in his client's state of mind.

He is expected to evoke post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, as a factor in the trial, a technique he employed in the defense of a Seattle-area thief known as the "Barefoot Bandit." The U.S. Army said this week it was reviewing the way it diagnoses PTSD among troops.

Browne has said that Bales drank alcohol on the night of the shooting, but not enough to impair his judgment. He has denied that marital or financial problems may have negatively affected Bales, but he said his client was not happy at being sent on his fourth war-zone deployment after three tours of duty in Iraq, where he suffered two wounds.

Browne has played down the effect of Bales' financial problems, which include an abandoned property in the Seattle area and an unpaid $1.5 million judgment from his time as a securities broker.

Bales' wife, Karilyn, is being sheltered by the Army at Lewis-McChord. (Reuters)

Syria deaths pile up despite UN peace call

BEIRUT: Fierce clashes raged across Syria despite a UN Security Council peace call, with 10 civilians on a bus trying to flee to Turkey among at least 26 people killed on Thursday, monitors and activists said.

The bus, with women and children on board, was shot up near the town of Sermin in the northwestern province of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, without identifying the assailants.

An opposition activist on the ground, Milad Fadl, contacted by AFP in Beirut, said the civilians were headed for Turkey to escape the bloodshed when regime forces opened fire.

The Britain-based Observatory said earlier that a 17-year-old boy was killed and dozens wounded in an army assault on Sermin itself.

Army forces attacked a string of towns, while rebel fighters struck army posts in several provinces and announced a command structure to coordinate hit-and-run strikes in and around the capital.

In the deadliest attack on the army, five soldiers were killed in a raid on a military checkpoint in the region of Latakia, said the Observatory.

The region has a large population of Alawites, members of the minority offshoot of Shiite Islam to which President Bashar al-Assad also belongs and which forms the backbone of his regime.

In the south, rebel fighters killed a soldier and wounded four others near the village of Saida in Daraa province, where Syria's year-old revolt against the regime erupted, said the monitoring group.

Army deserters killed two soldiers in the town.

It added three civilians were killed as troops sprayed heavy machinegun fire in Qusayr, a town in the flashpoint province of Homs, central Syria, where rebel forces killed four soldiers.

The reports could not be confirmed due to restrictions on the movements of foreign media.

The escalation came just hours after the Security Council passed a statement urging Assad and his foes to implement "fully and immediately" international envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan.

Annan's plan calls for Assad to pull troops and heavy weapons out of protest cities, a daily two-hour humanitarian pause to hostilities, access to all areas affected by the fighting, and a UN-supervised halt to all clashes.

A correspondent at the scene also reported violent clashes in and around Sermin, a village near the town of Binesh in Idlib, as army shelling and tank fire threw up thick plumes of black smoke.

At least four civilians, including two children, were killed and more than 30 wounded, according to rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) sources.

"Tanks have been posted on the Sermin-Binesh road blocking any evacuation of the wounded or villagers from fleeing the clashes," said another rebel fighter, Abu Salmu.

Monitors say more than 9,100 people have been killed in a revolt against Assad that started with peaceful protests before turning into an increasingly armed revolt, faced with a brutal crackdown costing dozens of lives each day.

On the rebel side, the FSA has set up a military council to coordinate hit-and-run strikes around Damascus, it announced in an online video.

"I, Colonel Khaled Mohammed al-Hammud, announce the creation of the military council for Damascus and the region that will be in charge of FSA operations in this region," an army officer who deserted says in the video.

Human Rights Watch charged Thursday that Syrian forces were using "Homs tactics" against Qusayr, which lies on the Lebanese border, by shelling residential areas, deploying snipers and attacking civilians trying to flee.

Citing 18 witnesses, HRW said similar tactics were employed by government forces in their capture of the cities of Idlib and Homs earlier this month.

Residents of Qusayr had told HRW that rebels who pulled out of the Baba Amr district of Homs on March 1 after a month-long shelling that monitors said cost hundreds of lives had joined FSA comrades in their town. (Reuters)

Pakistan snatch Asia Cup in sensational final

DHAKA: Pakistan won the Asia Cup Final in a closely contested match against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Chasing 237 for the win, Bangladesh fell short by 3 runs.

After being put into bat by Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who always liked to chase throughout the tournament, Pakistan could not bat impressively against accurate bowling and alert fielding from the hosts.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed top scored with an unbeaten 46, followed by Mohammad Hafeez (40), Shahid Afridi (32), Umar Akmal (30) and Hammad Azam (30) as no other batsmen could reached double figures.

US, Pakistan have shared anti-terror interest: Clinton

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States and Pakistan share interests in fighting terrorism after a panel in Islamabad made demands over the troubled relationship.


Clinton declined to comment in-depth on the panel's recommendations but

said that the United States was committed to an "honest, constructive, mutually beneficial relationship with Pakistan."


"We've been working through these difficulties and challenges. We believe we have shared interests. We believe we have the same enemies," Clinton said a news conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.


"We believe that it's important to support counter-terrorism against the insurgents who kill and maim tens of thousands of Pakistani people, who send teams across the border to kill and maim people in Afghanistan and to kill and maim our soldiers and others," Clinton said.


Pakistani lawmakers on Tuesday demanded a US apology over NATO air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November, leading Islamabad to close supply lines for US forces into Afghanistan.


Lawmakers also demanded taxes on NATO convoys and an end to drone attacks in which the United States has killed militants in Pakistan's lawless border areas.

Pakistan has voiced anger over civilian deaths.

Clinton said that she would not comment on the recommendations until the panel's findings come up for debate before the Pakistani parliament.

Contempt case: Aitzaz says Swiss letter cannot be written

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has adjourned the hearing of contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani till tomorrow, Geo News reported.

The bench has decided to conduct the hearing on daily basis from tomorrow.

A seven-member bench of apex court headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed And Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed is hearing the suo moto notice taken against non-compliance of court's verdict against National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

During today's proceedings, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan argued that until Asif Ali Zardari is holding the office of President of Pakistan, the SC order to write letter cannot be implemented.

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the bench, saying the bench that issued notice and delivered verdict before the case was started, should not conduct proceedings.

Aitzaz said the court cannot proceed on assumptions as it is a criminal trial and decision be made on evidences submitted before the court.

He contended that only the prime minister was held responsible for the contempt though former attorney general and former law secretary advised the premier for not writing the letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against Asif Ali Zardari.

The counsel argued that neither he was asking the court to review it's order and nor said the verdict was wrong but the implementation of the relevant part of the order was not possible because the president enjoys immunity under international law.

Former attorney general Anwar Mansoor, and former law secretary sent the advice to the PM, telling him that the president enjoys immunity and that the letter cannot be written. Justice Usmani remarked that the court was never informed about the PM's view.

'Do you want to say that the PM had no malafide intention,' Justice Khosa asked.

Aitzaz said the AG should be standing in the witness box to answer why the PM's comments were not conveyed.

The SC on March 08 adjourned the hearing of contempt case against Prime Minister Gilani till today.

The bench had asked the premier to submit his written reply by 19th of this month. If he wants to appear before the bench, it may record his statement on March 21.

In compliance of court’s order dated March 08, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan submitted a statement on behalf of PM Gilani on March 19.

In his statement, the prime minister said that he had committed no contempt by not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities due to the constitutional immunity enjoyed by the president.

Prime Minister Gilani has suggested the SC that if it does propose to expose the incumbent President of Pakistan to prosecution before a Western Magistrate, the best recourse will be to send this issue of grave public concern to the Parliament to take a decision, like it had done wisely over articles concerning appointments in the higher judiciary in the 18th Amendment case.

"I also believe that the sovereign state of Pakistan cannot, must not and should not offer its incumbent Head of State, symbol of Federation (Article 41), the most prominent component of Parliament (article 50), and the Supreme Commander of its Armed Forces (Article 243) for a criminal trial in the court of a foreign magistrate, during the term of his office," he maintained.

Memogate: Haqqani admits to May 2011 conversation with Ijaz

ISLAMABAD: Former ambassador Husain Haqqani has denied allegations leveled against him by Mansoor Ijaz in a statement submitted to the memo commission.

However Haqqani did admit to having a conversation with Mansoor Ijaz in May 2011, but claimed that the discussions during their conversation were different from what Ijaz had described.

His lawyer Sajid Tanoli submitted the reply to the commission here today.

The commission on Tuesday observed that Mansoor Ijaz has concluded his evidence while Hussain Haqqani has not carried out the admission or denial of documents despite being granted three opportunities.

However, in the interest of justice, a fourth and last opportunity was granted to Haqqani to complete the admission or denial of all documents produced by 5 pm London time (10 pm PST) on Wednesday.

In the event of a failure to admit or deny the said documents by the said date and time, it will be presumed that the same are admitted by Haqqani.

The Commission directed that the recording of evidence of Haqqani will commence on March 26 at 9:00 am (PST) in the premises of the Islamabad High Court.

In case Haqqani has any security concerns the same shall be conveyed to the Attorney General of Pakistan, who is directed to ensure that Haqqani is provided with complete security.

French police corner Al-Qaeda suspect after shootings

TOULOUSE: Shots rang out Wednesday as French police surrounded a self-declared member of the Al-Qaeda network holed up in a house after a series of shooting attacks that shocked the nation.

Police sources told that officers investigating three recent attacks in which a gunman killed three soldiers, three Jewish schoolchildren and a rabbi sealed off an address in the Cote Pavee residential district of Toulouse.

Six or seven shots rang out, but the area had been sealed off by police, including members of the RAID special weapons squad, and it was not immediately clear whether the siege was over.

"The suspect's mother was brought to the scene. She was asked to make contact with her son, to reason with him, but she did not want to, saying she had little influence on him," Interior Minister Claude Gueant said.

"This person has made trips to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past ... and says he belongs to Al-Qaeda and says he wanted to avenge Palestinian children and to attack the French army," Gueant said, as the operation continued.

Briefing reporters near the scene, Gueant said that the suspect's brother had been arrested while checks are carried out, although he confirmed that only one suspect had been at the scenes of the shootings.

Two police were slightly wounded as the raids got underway, a source said.

A source close to the inquiry said earlier that the suspect had exchanged words with the RAID team and had declared himself to be a member of Al-Qaeda, the armed group founded by late Osama bin Laden.

He is thought to be a 24-year-old man who had previously travelled to the lawless border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan which is known to house Al-Qaeda safehouses, one of the officials told. (AFP)

Miscreants abduct ‘Jang/The News’ circulation truck, burn newspapers

KARACHI: Unknown men kidnapped Jang Press driver along with circulation truck carrying thousands of newspapers for distribution early Wednesday morning, Geo News reported.

According to truck driver Sardar, unidentified men on motorcycles stopped the Jang Press circulation truck at MT Khan Road and took him to Hijrat Colony.

While narrating the incident, the driver told that the abductors took ‘Jang’ and ‘The News’ newspapers along that were later found burnt in another truck near passport office.

After getting the information of the incident, police reached the spot and controlled the blaze.

Sardar told that the miscreants quoted rift with the Jang Group as a cause behind carrying out such a malicious act.

It is pertinent to mention that some armed motorcyclists smashed windows of 'Geo News' satellite van and resorted to firing outside the office at I.I. Chundrigar road early on Tuesday morning. They had also cut-off cable wires in different areas and the technicians sent for repair were threatened.

Various journalists' organizations condemned the firing incident outside Geo News office and severing of cable network across the city. Secretary Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Amin Yousuf termed the incident as an attack on freedom of journalism and also vowed to protest. President Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) GM Jamali demanded swift action against the perpetrators.

A political party complained of inadequate coverage and forced shutting down channels. Upon refusal from cable operators, the network was severed affecting 70 percent of the coverage in the metropolis. The operators later held a press conference.