LPG jumps by Rs 15 per ton as producers shift levy to consumers

KARACHI: Local producers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have shifted the burden of levy on LPG to 60 million consumers, raising its prices Friday by Rs 15,850 to a record Rs 109,700 per ton.

Chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee on LPG and All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association (APLDA) Abdul Hadi Khan, while expressing his disappointment over this rise, said that the raise of Rs 15,850 included the levy of Rs 11,400 per ton on LPG.

This has enhanced domestic prices by Rs 15 to Rs 145-165 per kilo, 11.8 kilo cylinder by Rs 188 to Rs 1,652 and 45.4 kg cylinder by Rs 726 to Rs 6,356, he added.

He said that the government could not stop producers from passing on LPG levy to consumers, raising its prices to record high in the country's history.

This will have a negative impact on LPG sales and make this fuel out of the reach of common consumers.

Hadi alleged that the local producers have been given liberty to raise LPG price at their own will, which amounts to drop a price bomb on the consumers who are already burdened with unprecedented price hike.

Hadi said that he has convened an emergency meeting of over 6,000 distributors and other stakeholders to devise a line of action against this price rise and transfer of LPG levy to the consumers.

He further alleged that local producers have restricted the daily production to 1,100 to 1,200 tons since last seven months, with some producers planning to go for production shut down in the mid of March, thus further reducing LPG production to 600 to 700.

"This will enable the non-representative stakeholders to take advantage of big gap between demand and supply of LPG and resort to profiteering", he noted.

Hadi urged the Petroleum Minister to take effective measures to bring down LPG prices to a reasonable level and provide relief to 60 million consumers and save jobs of thousands of people attached to this industry.

He said local production cost of LPG is Rs 13,000 to rs 14,000 per tonne while it is being sold at Rs 109,700 per ton. He underlined the need for developing a price mechanism to bring down LPG price and save this sector from collapse. (APP)

Conspiracies to stop Senate elections: PM Gilani

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday said the Senate elections would be held according to schedule and the government would talk about general elections with other political parties after budget.

Talking to media persons at the opening ceremony of a Pak-Business Express train at railway station here, the prime minister said the government would present its fifth budget in the National Assembly in June that would be unprecedented in the parliamentary history of the country.

He said, "all conspiracies against the government will end after the Senate elections as they are aimed at avoiding these elections."

The premier said he would be ready to talk about the next general elections with the political parties after the budget 2012-13, if anyone wanted to discuss it.

He said that fixation of petroleum prices was the responsibility of the regulatory authority but as Chief Executive of the people's government he had formed a parliamentary committee to discuss the issue.

The PM said the parliamentary committee would discuss the issue of petroleum prices with the Finance Minister.

When asked about proceedings at the Supreme Court, Gilani said he respected the decision of the court and would appear on February 13th.

The prime minister has been summoned by the apex court and will be indicted for contempt.

Imran submits appeal to stop by-polls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday submitted a miscellaneous appeal to the court for stopping by-elections scheduled to be held on February 25, and to remove fake votes from the voter lists.

Advocate Hamid Khan submitted the petition on behalf of Imran Khan, saying that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was holding by-elections without correcting the current voter lists.

Previously the ECP had categorically stated that the deadline given by the Supreme Court to purge the lists of fake votes by February 23, 2012 was "humanly impossible" and had sought assistance from political parties for extension of the deadline.

Ruckus in Punjab Assembly

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly today witnessed another chaotic session when the members from both sides of the benches exchanged abusive language against each other, Geo News reported.

The session was adjourned by the speaker for ten minutes, but resumed half an hour later.

The assembly hall looked like a fish market where the legislators got angry over continuous absence of CM Shahbaz Sharif from the assembly and deaths due to drug reaction.

When the session began, PML-Q's Samina Khawar Hayat termed Shahbaz Sharif Qatil-e-Aala upon which another member Sheikh Allaudin interrupted her. Treasury members also raised slogans against her.

This angered Samina and she then called Allaudin 'Lota and used abusive language. Allaudin also replied in more indecent words.

England 104-6 at close, Pakistan routed for 99

DUBAI: England were 104-6 at the close on the opening day of the third and final Test match, after Pakistan were bowled out for 99 in their first innings at Dubai Stadium here on Friday.

Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 41 and with him James Anderson on three not out, as England lead by just five runs.

Stuart Broad took 4-36 and Anderson finished with 3-35.

Asad Shafiq topscored for Pakistan with 45. (AFP) 

SC drug reaction suo moto hearing today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will hear today suo moto notice of the deaths of more than 90 heart patients under treatment at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), either from spurious drugs or due to wrong prescription of blood thinning and lipid lowering medicines.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took notice of a note initiated by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and issued notices to the attorney general, Punjab advocate general, federal and provincial secretaries, DG FIA and IG Punjab. The CJ directed the office to register the note as a petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution as prima facie it seemed that the provisions of Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution had not been adhered to strictly.

The chief justice further directed that the case be listed before a bench, headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, today and issued notices to the Attorney General, the Advocate General Punjab, Secretaries Health of the Federal Government as well as government of Punjab, PPO Punjab and DG FIA to appear before the bench and file a reply before the petition.

Obama confirms drone strikes in Pakistan

President Barack Obama on Monday confirmed that US drone aircraft have struck Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets within Pakistan -- operations that until now had not been officially acknowledged.

When asked about the use of drones by his administration in a chat with web users on Google+ and YouTube, Obama said "a lot of these strikes have been in the FATA.

"For the most part, they've been very precise precision strikes against Al-Qaeda and their affiliates, and we're very careful in terms of how it's been applied," Obama said.

"This is a targeted focused effort at people who are on a list of active terrorists, who are trying to go in and harm Americans, hit American facilities, American bases, and so on."

Explaining that many strikes were carried out "on al-Qaeda operatives in places where the capacities of that military in that country may not be able to get them," Obama confirmed that Pakistan's lawless tribal zone was a target.

"So, obviously, a lot of these strikes have been in the FATA, and going after al-Qaeda suspects who are up in very tough terrain along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

"For us to be able to get them in another way would involve probably a lot more intrusive military action than the ones we're already engaging in."

US officials say Pakistan's tribal belt provides sanctuary to Taliban fighting for 10 years in Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda groups plotting attacks on the West, Pakistani Taliban who routinely bomb Pakistan and other foreign fighters.

Sixty-four US missile strikes were reported in Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal belt last year, down from 101 reported in 2010, according to AFP tallies.

The United States had until now refused to discuss drone strikes publicly, but the program has dramatically increased as the Obama administration looks to withdraw all foreign combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

The Pakistani government is understood to agree to the program despite popular opposition at home, and drones have reportedly killed dozens of Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives and hundreds of low-ranking fighters since 2004.

But the missile strikes fuel widespread anti-American resentment, which is running especially high in Pakistan since US air strikes inadvertently killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.

A US-NATO investigation blamed the deaths on a litany of errors and botched communications on both sides. But Pakistan rejected the findings, insisting the strikes had been deliberate.

Islamabad is now reviewing its entire alliance with the United States and has kept its Afghan border closed to NATO supply convoys for two months.

It ordered US personnel to leave Shamsi air base in western Pakistan, widely believed to have been a hub for the CIA drone program, and is thought likely to only reopen the Afghan border by exacting taxes on convoys. (AFP)

Haqqani jets out of Pakistan finally

ISLAMABAD: Erstwhile envoy to US, Husain Haqqani has finally taken off for Abu Dhabi,

Earlier, he arrived at the airport after Supreme Court lifted travel restrictions imposed on a former diplomat, in a fresh sign that a probe into a major scandal threatening the president is running out of steam.

Haqqani did not talk to media at the airport.

His flight out of Pakistan suffered an hour’s delay

After staying in Abu Dhabi for a while, he will jet to Washington, USA.

Three Rawalpindi students recovered

RAWALPINDI: Three students missing from Rawalpindi's Gawalmindi area have been recovered,

According to parents the children left home for school in the morning but never reached there and now after 16 hours they were recovered from Baboo Mohalla.

Police registered an FIR and launched search operation. According to police the three of them were fast friends and were not kidnapped.

Syria security forces kill 34 civilians rights group.

Syrian security forces killed 34 civilians, including 10 children, in clashes across the country today, a rights group said.

"The toll for the day has risen to 34 civilians killed by the security forces in several regions of Syria, mostly in Homs," said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Separately, seven deserters and eight regular soldiers died in clashes, according to the rights group, among them a colonel killed in Homs, a protest hub in central Syria.

The Observatory said the army launched an offencive today evening in the Karm al-Zeitoun district of Homs, killing 26 civilians, including nine children, and wounding dozens.

And in the rebel city of Hama, also central Syria, where the army launched a major assault on Tuesday, four civilians were killed, including a 58-year-old woman shot dead by snipers, according to the same source.

Elsewhere, one civilian reportedly died in the restive northwestern province of Idlib, and two others were killed in the suburbs of Damascus.

In the southern province of Daraa, cradle of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a teenager was killed when security forces fired indiscriminately on a student demonstration in the town of Nawa, the Observatory said, citing residents.

Today's casualties could not be independently verified because of government restrictions imposed on journalists covering the unrest in Syria, which first has broke out last March and has claimed more than 5,400 lives according to UN estimates.

UN appeals funds for children

GENEVA: United Nations appealed for $1.28 billion to fund its 2012 humanitarian operations in more than 25 countries including Pakistan. While the crisis in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa accounts for nearly one-third of the total amount, the list of countries includes many long-standing or "silent" emergencies.

Launched in Geneva, the UNICEF 2012 Humanitarian Action for Children report says: "Throughout the world, millions of children are living amidst crises that persist for years. While some of these emergencies attract significant media and political attention, others never reach international awareness, and many become silent emergencies in which deep humanitarian need, existing far from the public eye, is too easily and quickly overlooked."

"In the Sahel, we are facing a nutrition crisis of a larger magnitude than usual. In addition, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic, to name just a few, are all emergencies requiring funding if their most vulnerable people, children and women, are to survive," said Rima Salah, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, at the launch of the report.

The UNICEF report describes the daily situation of some of the world's most vulnerable children and women caught up in emergencies across the world and the funding required to meet their immediate and long-term needs.

Panetta believes Pakistan knew of bin Laden hideout

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta still believes someone in authority in Pakistan knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding before US forces went in to find him, he said in a TV interview to air Sunday.

Intelligence reports found Pakistani military helicopters had passed over the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where US Navy SEALs discovered and killed bin Laden last year, according to excerpts of an interview Panetta gave to CBS News.

"I personally have always felt that somebody must have had some sense of what was happening at this compound. Don't forget, this compound had 18-foot walls... It was the largest compound in the area.

"So you would have thought that somebody would have asked the question, 'What the hell's going on there?'" Panetta told CBS.

The Pentagon chief said that concern played a significant factor in Washington not warning Pakistan officials of the impending raid: "it concerned us that, if we, in fact, brought (Pakistan) into it, that-- they might...give bin Laden a heads up," he said.

Panetta acknowledged he did not have "hard evidence" Pakistan knew of the Al Qaeda leader's whereabouts.

US Navy SEALs killed Bin Laden on May 2 in a raid on a compound in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, north of the capital Islamabad, and later buried the 9/11 mastermind at sea. (AFP)

Case registered against Khurram Rasool in Karachi

KARACHI: A case has also been registered in Karachi against the former media coordinator of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Gilani.

According to the details, FIA Corporate Crime Circle Karachi official registered a case against Khurram Rasool after recording statement of the company's managing director Haji Hameed Tili.

The statement stated that the accused did fraud of Rs 10 crore with the company. FIA was also told that the accused issued various cheques to the company which could not be cashed.

NAB probe team while contacting FIA Karachi summoned detailed report about the fraud, which would be submitted in Supreme Court.

Policeman among three killed in Karachi

KARACHI: Three people including a policeman were killed in various incidents of firing, meanwhile, a bus was also set on fire by unidentified men in the metropolis on Friday night, Geo news reported.

According to the police, unidentified armed men opened fire outside a factory in Ram Swami area of Garden, injuring four people, which were rushed to Civil hospital. A man succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Another incident took place in Pak Colony where a policeman, identified as Yousuf, received bullet wound. He lost his life during medical treatment. Police official said that the policeman was deployed at Arambagh.

Meanwhile, a man was gunned down by unidentified men near Disco Mor.

In Gulshan e Iqbal, a firing incident caused stampede near Aladin Park after which a bus was set on fire.

Bilateral ties needed with US: Sherry

WASHINGTON: Pakistani Ambassador to United States Sherry Rehman has said that ties with US should be bilateral and not unilateral, adding that Pakistan should be given its justified status.

During a meeting with members of Pakistani community in embassy here, Sherry Rehman said that Pakistan-US relationship are important through which peace and stability could be assured in the region.

She said that Pakistan has given clear message to US that ties between both the countries should be based upon mutual respect and equality.

Sherry said that Pakistan was passing through an important political change, adding that the government would complete its term.

Will foil conspiracies hatched against government: President Zardari

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari while addressing a gathering said the politics of the PPP was not dependent on votes

The president added that they could change the destiny of Pakistan if the bureaucracy let them work and cooperated for the length of the government’s term.

“There are new conspiracies hatched against us everyday and we will foil all of them” the president said.

Speaking on the country’s economy, the president once again reiterated that Pakistan required trade not aid.

The president said the currency swap programme was initiated with Turkey and China, adding that other countries would be approached.

President Zardari however did mention that the State Bank was against this programme.

Political forces, civil society and media want democracy: PM Gilani

AVOS: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said political forces, civil society and the media want democracy in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Gilani is in Davos attending the World Economic Forum where he spoke with Geo News correspondent Khalid Farooqui.

On elections, the prime minister said that the government would decide when they would be held.

“All institutions are working within the jurisdiction of the constitution, nothing is happening after the person creating problems was removed” Gilani said.

The prime minister added that the days of article 58-2b were over.

On Mansoor Ijaz, the prime minister said that the US businessman had been summoned by the courts and thus he would not make any statement regarding Ijaz.

Shahbaz promises Mansoor Ijaz full security in Lahore

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday extended his personal guarantee to provide impregnable security cover to US businessman Mansoor Ijaz and asked him to arrive in the Punjab to record his statement in the memo scandal.

It is pertinent to point out that both Allama Iqbal International Airport and Benazir International Airport are located in the Punjab.

Responding to questions, the Punjab chief minister said he would take personal responsibility for providing complete security to Ijaz during his visit to Pakistan.

Shahbaz said that he would welcome Ijaz and provide him security till his departure from Pakistan. He also requested the Supreme Court appointed judicial commission to record Mansoor's statement in Lahore.

While responding to a question regarding provincial government's restrictions inside the airport he said the Supreme Court would be approached to gain the authority

All Sindhis are equal: Altaf Hussain

SUKKUR: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain has said that he would protect Sindh,

Addressing a public rally in Sukkur, Hussain said Sindh adds 70 percent of revenue to the national exchequer adding that if the province stops providing this 70 percent revenue, the country could not be run with only 30 percent. Sindh should be given share as per the population.


MQM leader said 'all Sindhis are equal there is no new or old'. He said he hated the word 'minority'. Hussain further said he only wants elimination of feudalism.


The MQM Chief called upon the provincial and federal government to release funds for development projects in Sukkur. 


Hussain also stressed for the establishment of university and college besides standard hospital there.


He announced Rs.1 million for the Sukkur press club and asked Rabitta Committee to issue this amount at the earliest.


Altaf said Shia and Sunni lawyers were being killed in Karachi, adding that it is a conspiracy to bring them face to face. He urged the people to foil all such conspiracies.


Altaf demanded of the government to provide security to lawyers' fraternity and journalists. He also asked the government to improve the overall law and order situation in the province.


Issue of Balochistan should be resolved amicably, he said and added use of power should be avoided in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Peace be restored in KPK by taking people into confidence, he said.


He said nationalists talk about Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai but the message of great sufi poet is 'love'. 

Democracy flourishes with stable instutions: Hina Rabbani Khar

DAVOS: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar who is attending the World Economic Forum said Thursday that democracy can only flourish if institutions were stable.

Khar added if there was a consistent democratic government in Pakistan then the country’s problems might not have been this complicated.

The foreign minister said there was no particular model of democracy and it takes time for democracy to flourish.

“People’s expectations from democracy are increasing worldwide” Khar said.

Funeral prayers held for killed lawyers

KARACHI: Funeral prayers were held for the three lawyers killed on Wednesday.

The funeral prayers were attended by thousands including members of the legal fraternity.

Lawyers across the country also boycotted court proceedings in protest to the killings while the Shia Ulema Council announced three days of mourning.

Supreme Court to begin hearing of Asghar Khan case from Feb 29

iSLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has set February 29 as the date for initiating the proceedings of Asghar Khan case.

According to details, the case was filed by Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan in 1996 following a statement of former interior minister Naseerullah Babar in the Parliament in which he alleged that in 1990 Rs140 million had been dished out with the help of ISI among the political opponents of Pakistan People's Party.

The petition filed by Asghar Khan said, ISI distributed money among the political opponents of PPP during the general elections of 1990.

The proceedings were started on the case in 1996 when Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The then Army Chief General Aslam Baig, in a reply submitted with the Supreme Court said:

- President Ghulam Ishaq Khan had set up an election cell in the Presidency under the supervision of Roidad Khan and Ajlal Haider during 1990 general elections.

- ISI had on the instructions of the election cell gave away Rs140 million to the opponents of PPP.

- It is a usual thing for ISI to extend help to their favorite politicians in elections and its approval is granted by the chief executive of the government.

Former ISI chief Lt. Gen. (Retd) Asad Durrani in his affidavit said:

- The money was distributed among politicians on the directive of General (Retd) Aslam Baig (Chief of Army Staff at the time).

According to Asad Durrani the money was distributed as below:

Nawaz Sharif got Rs3.5 million; Mir Afzal Khan Rs10 million; Lt. Gen. Rafaqat got Rs5.6 million for distribution among journalists; Abida Hussain Rs1 million; Jamat-e-Islami Rs5 million; Altaf Hussain Qureshi Rs500,000; Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi Rs5 million (Sindh); Jam Sadiq Rs5 million (Sindh); Muhammad Khan Junejo Rs250,000 (Sindh); Pir Pagara Rs2 million (Sindh); Maulana Salahuddin Rs300,000 (Sindh); different small groups in Sindh Rs5.4 million and; Humayun Marri Rs1.5 million (Balochistan).

US talking with Pak to abandon gas purchases from Iran

WASHINGTON: United States has confirmed that it has stepped up efforts to lobby Pakistan to abandon gas purchases from its western neighbour Iran.

During a daily press briefing, the state department’s spokesperson Nuland Victoria said that US was talking to countries around the world to cut global dependence on Iran, adding that Pakistan was one of the countries that the US was working with.

Replying to a question, the spokesperson that she didn’t have anything specific that where those conversations with Pakistan were leading. She said that US was talking about all kinds of diversification.

According to the British website, the officials from USAID have taken part in a meeting at Pakistan’s petroleum ministry to indicate that LNG could be made available by the US at $4.5 per mmbtu.

Siddle strikes with Tendulkar, Gambhir wickets

ADELAIDE: Australian paceman Peter Siddle rocked India's hopes of avoiding the follow-on with the big wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir on the third day of the fourth Adelaide Test on Thursday.

Siddle had Tendulkar and Gambhir dismissed to brilliant diving catches behind the wicket in the space of 10 balls to have the beleaguered tourists again under pressure.

Spinner Nathan Lyon followed up with the wicket of misfiring V.V.S. Laxman for 18 shortly before lunch to have the Australians bowling at India's lower order.

At lunch, India, chasing Australia's 604 for seven declared, were 122 for five and needing 283 more runs to avoid the follow-on, with Virat Kohli on 21 and Wriddhiman Saha on five.

Tendulkar again missed out on his 100th international century when he was dismissed for 25 inside the opening hour.

Siddle struck with the second ball of his fifth over enticing an edge off Tendulkar's bat for a diving Ricky Ponting to scoop it up low down at second slip.

Gambhir was out in Siddle's next over when he was unable to keep down a lifting delivery and was caught off the shoulder of his bat by a diving Mike Hussey at gully for 34.

The wholehearted Siddle had captured two huge wickets in 10 balls to seize the initiative for Australia. It was the third time in the series Siddle claimed Tendulkar's wicket and he had figures of 3-29 off seven overs at lunch.

Laxman's miserable series continued when he edged a bouncier Lyon delivery into the gloves of Brad Haddin. In seven innings in the series Laxman has scored just 120 runs at 17.14.

The Indians are facing a 4-0 series wipeout in the final Test after heavy losses in the opening three Tests. (AFP)

Swiss return 1.7bn francs in seized Arab Spring assets

GENEVA: Switzerland said Tuesday it has returned nearly 1.7 billion Swiss francs (1.41 billion euros, $1.83 billion) in illicitly placed assets to countries involved in the Arab Spring regime changes.

"The return of illicit assets is a key component of the system set up by Switzerland to protect its financial sector and to fight against international financial crime," the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
It did not name the countries to which money had been returned however.

Switzerland revealed the figures during a meeting of international experts on Monday and Tuesday in Lausanne that focused on the recovery of illicit assets held by autocratic leaders in countries where regime changes occurred.

The seminar included experts from international aid organisations in 15 countries.
Meanwhile, Swiss courts have expanded investigations into frozen Tunisian and Egyptian assets, amid suspicions that a crime syndicate may be linked to them.

"In addition to the suspicion of money laundering," investigators are probing the possible involvement of a "criminal organisation," a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office, Jeannette Balmer, told AFP

New UN showdown with Russia over Syria looms

DAMASCUS: Britain and France joined forces with Arab allies on Wednesday to push the U.N. Security Council to back an Arab League call for Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad to step aside, setting the stage for a showdown with Syria's ally Russia.

"The U.N. Security Council must support the Arab League's courageous decisions which are trying to end the repression and violence in Syria and find a solution to the political crisis," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

The Security Council could vote as early as next week on a new draft resolution, which delegates from Britain and France are crafting in consultation with Qatar, Morocco, the United States, Germany and Portugalenvoys said. The new resolution replaces a Russian draft Western diplomats said was too weak.

U.S. President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that Assad would "soon discover that the forces of change can't be reversed."

It remains unclear whether Russia - which together with China vetoed a European-drafted resolution in October that condemned Syria and threatened it with sanctions over its 10-month crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators - is prepared to once again to block council action on Syria.

"We hope Russia won't use its veto against the Arab League, which is what it would be this time," a U.N. envoy said. "They'll put up a fight. There will be negotiations. We'll see."

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country remained opposed to sanctions on Syria and reiterated its opposition to military intervention. But the Western-Arab draft, obtained by Reuters, calls for neither military action nor sanctions, but for the council to support the Arab League. (Reuters)

Al Qaeda 'still a real threat' to US: Panetta

WASHINGTON: Despite the killings of Osama bin Laden and radical US-Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, the al Qaeda terror network remains a "real threat to the United States," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a TV interview late Wednesday.

CBS News released excerpts of an interview with Panetta scheduled to run Sunday, in which the Pentagon chief discusses US strategy to disband al Qaeda's global networks.

"We're going after al Qaeda, wherever they're at," Panetta told CBS in the interview excerpt.

"And clearly, we're confronting al Qaeda in Pakistan. We're confronting the nodes of al Qaeda in Yemen, in Somalia, in North Africa. ... and obviously whatever al Qaeda links are involved in Afghanistan," he said.

Have US forces have defeated Al Qaeda?

"Not yet," Panetta said. "They're still a real threat. There's still al Qaeda out there. And we've got to continue to put pressure on them wherever they're at."

Panetta however said that US forces have "undermined their leadership significantly."

Of the network's 10 main leaders listed after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, only one is still alive: Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took over after bin Laden was shot dead in a dramatic US commando raid in Pakistan in May.

In the past year, eight of al Qaeda's top 20 leaders were eliminated, most by missiles fired from US drones operating under an expanded covert warfare effort launched by President Barack Obama after taking office in January 2009.

Those killed include Awlaki, slain in Yemen in a US drone strike on September 30.

Former CIA chief Panetta took over as defense secretary in July, replacing Robert Gates, a holdover from the presidency of George W. Bush. (AFP)

Three lawyers shot dead in Karachi

Karachi: Three lawyers were killed when unidentified armed men opened fire on their car near then Aram Bagh area of Karachi.

A fourth lawyers is in critical condition and is undergoing surgery at the Civil Hospital.

The police have described the act as target killing and say the attackers were riding motorcycles and chased the lawyers from the city court.

Lawyers have announced a nationwide strike in protest of the killings.

According to the MLO of the civil hospital, the lawyers were shot at close range.

Eyewitness accounts state that the police failed to act and only opened aerial firing after the attack had already taken place.

The police were also late in cordoning off the crime scene.

Home Minister Sindh Mansoor Wasan has ordered the suspension of SHO Aram Bagh, while Interior Minister Rehman Malik has summoned a report from IG Sindh.

PPP demands suo moto against PIC tragedy

LAHORE: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Pakistan People's Party Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki has demanded of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice against deaths of heart patients due to medicines given by Punjab Institute of Cardiology here.

In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, she also demanded stern action against the responsible of the incident. She urged Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take solid steps and form a strategy to avoid such incidents in the future as it was his duty to take care of the precious lives of the people.

She said the PPP did not want to politicise the issue but it wanted an action against the culprits.

Abid Siddiqui, PPP Lahore Information Secretary, in his separate statement said that it was duty of the party as an opposition to highlight the rights of the people so it demanded the CM to take action against the responsible of the PIC incidents. (APP

72 die from substandard medicine in Lahore

LAHORE: Substandard medicines dispensed by the Punjab Institute of Cardiology have claimed 72 lives.

Several patients are still being treated at various government hospitals and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered that all facilities be provided to them.

Sharif has also announced compensation of Rs 500,000 for the victims’ families and Rs 200,000 for patients.

The investigation team formed by the Chief Minister has also confiscated the medicine record of the PIC after raiding the drug testing laboratory.

Teams are also visiting neighbourhoods across the city gathering the substandard medicine.

10 trapped after mine collapses near Abbottabad

ABBOTTABAD: Ten miners are trapped after a phosphate mine collapsed on the outskirts of Abbottabad in Tarnawai.

Efforts are underway to rescue the miners trapped underneath the rubble.

The rescue effort is being led by locals while the district administration has called upon the Frontier Works Organisation to provide help.

The reason for the collapse is not yet known.

Earlier on Wednesday, Geo News spoke with the DPO of Abbottabad who feared there might not be any survivors.

The DPO said that illegal phosphate mining was rampant in the area.

COAS, DG ISI act not unconstitutional: PM Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that his statement regarding army chief and DG ISI was relevant in a particular situation and was given due to discrepancies in the statements of senior officials,

Prime Minister Gilani was talking to the media at Islamabad airport before his departure for Switzerland where he would be participating at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The PM said that he wanted to dispell the impression that the military officials’ act was unconstitutional and unlawful. Now the situation has become clear and ambiguities have been solved.

PM Gilani said that the country could not afford confrontations among the institutions and every institution has to work in unison to safeguard its interests.

India gets nuclear submarine from Russia

MOSCOW: Russia on Monday transferred the much-expected K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine on a 10-year lease to the Indian Navy, Russian news agencies reported.

The Nerpa was handed over to the Indian Navy in a ceremony at the Zvezda shipyard in the far eastern territory of Primorye.

Indian ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra attended the ceremony along with a delegation from Russian arms exports agency Rosoboronexport, the United Shipbuilding Corporation and the Russian Pacific Fleet command.

With a displacement of 12,770 tonnes and maximum speed of 30 knots, the submarine can remain underwater for 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel that can operate at a maximum depth of 600 metres is armed with four 533-mm torpedo tubes and four 650-mm torpedo tubes. (Monitoring Desk)

Memo commission resumes hearing

ISLAMABAD: Justice Qazi Faez Isa-led three-member judicial commission, investigating the memo scandal, is likely to decide on Tuesday whether or not to go abroad to record the testimony of American businessman of Pakistani origin Mansoor Ijaz after he expressed dissatisfaction over security arrangements and is not coming to Pakistan.

Mustafa Ramday, advocate, who represents Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif in the memogate scandal, told that Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha was another focal person in the case. "It has to be seen whether the spymaster appears before the commission and what does he say."

However, Ramday said Pasha's evidence was extremely important because he had informed the apex court about the existence of memo and its other elaborate related details.

In Tuesday's hearing, the lawyer said, it would be clear whether any party wants to cross-examine former Ambassador Husain Haqqani. But above all, he said, the commission will hear arguments on the application of Ijaz's counsel that his client could not come to Pakistan and the commission should take his testimony in London or Zurich.

Lawyers of Ijaz and Haqqani and Attorney General Maulvi Anwaarul Haq agree that the commission would take a decision in this connection after the businessman's refusal to come to Pakistan. The apex court order, which appointed the commission, noted that the judicial forum "shall be authorized to collect evidence within and outside Pakistan according to prevailing laws on the subject."

Meanwhile, the government, in the words of an official, is thrilled over three developments, which, he believed, have favoured it and damaged the memo scandal against it. The first action, the official said, was the snub of the Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian manufacturers of the BlackBerry smart phone, to furnish to the commission the supposed data of communications between Ijaz and Haqqani.

He said the second development was Haqqani's disclosure to the judicial commission that his two BlackBerry sets have been "misplaced" and were beyond retrieval. The official said that the third act, which was most important, was Ijaz's final refusal to come to Pakistan to appear before the commission.

Haqqani's lawyer Zahid Bokhari said if the commission decided to go abroad for Ijaz's testimony, he would express his views after considering the grounds for such a decision and would appeal to the Supreme Court against it.

Lawyers said that Tuesday's proceedings of the commission would be extremely significant as these would determine its future course to collect the evidence. They said that the commission could decide to benefit from the 81-page BlackBerry record that Ijaz has already submitted to it, and conclude its report. But this record is still unverified, one of them said.

However, he said it was beyond doubt that the memo did exist because the person who drafted it, the person who acted as the conduit to deliver it to the final recipient and the person who received it have admitted their parts. The only question, the lawyer said, to be determined is whether Haqqani or somebody else from Pakistan is involved in its preparation.

In the light of its direction that the commission shall be authorized to collect evidence within and outside Pakistan according to prevailing laws on the subject, the judicial forum is allowed to even go abroad to bring together the evidence, which is very vital in view of Ijaz's change of mind. In its first order passed on December 1 in the memo case, the apex court held that if need be Tariq Khosa, who was then appointed as commission, may travel outside Pakistan for the purposes of collecting evidence as this court had permitted such practice in the case of Benazir Bhutto v. State (PLD 1999 SC 937).

However, in its subsequent ruling on December 30, the court's order that Haqqani was directed not to leave Pakistan without its permission was only kept intact. The last order said that the probe is called for to ascertain the origin, authenticity and purpose of creating and drafting of the memo for delivering it to Mike Mullen through James Logan Jones. The due process of law is the entitlement of all the stakeholders to ensure investigation into the matter in a transparent manner. The commission is exercising all the powers of judicial officers for the purpose of carrying out the given object and is free to avail services of advocates, experts of forensic science and cyber crimes.

Zahid Bokhari rejected any suggestion that Ijaz's testimony should be taken through videoconferencing facility and said it would not be acceptable. The job of the commission is only to collect evidence and report it to the apex court for the purpose of probe into the memo scandal. It will be determined in the light of the evidence so collected whether civil or criminal liability entails for those found responsible.

Mansoor Ijaz has ridiculed commission: Bukhari

ISLAMABAD: The lawyer of Hussain Haqqani former ambassador to US, Zahid Hussain Bukhari said Mansoor Ijaz has ridiculed the commission by not appearing before it despite promising twice,

While arriving for the hearing at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) he said there is no justification in recording Mansoor Ijaz's statement did abroad and I will ask the commission to forfeit his right of statement.

The counsel said he will approach SC if not satisfied with commission.

Mansoor meets US envoys in Switzerland

WASHINGTON: US State Department Monday said that a key character of memogate scandal Mansoor Ijaz met US envoys in Switzerland, however refused to comment on details of the meetings.

During a daily press briefing, US State Department's spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that Ijaz met US envoys in Switzerland, adding that she could not comment on private meetings.

She said that Mansoor Ijaz is free to disclose all the details of his meetings with US envoys.

Pentagon rejects Pakistan army report on NATO blunder

WASHINGTON: The United States rejected Monday the findings of a Pakistani probe into NATO air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in late November, saying the investigation ignored the fact that "mistakes" were made on both sides.

At a press briefing, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the Pakistani army had officially delivered during the weekend a copy of the report conducted by Islamabad on the November 26 strikes against a Pakistani border post.

"The statement that this was an unprovoked attack by US forces is simply false," said Navy Captain Kirby. "It was not an unprovoked attack," he said. "There were errors made by both sides here."

Underscoring its criticism of the NATO force in Afghanistan, the Pakistani military rejected Monday US efforts to apportion some of the blame to Pakistan as "unwarranted and unacceptable." (AFP)

Attorney General assures foolproof security to Ijaz

ISLAMABAD: Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq has assured foolproof security to the main character of the memogate scandal, Mansoor Ijaz,

Talking to 'Geo  News', Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq said, in reply to the letter of Mansoor Ijaz's counsel Akram Shaikh, he has assured foolproof security to Ijaz.

The Attorney General said as per the rule, federal government would provide foolproof security to Mansoor Ijaz, adding that according to Article 245, military personnel would also accomplice security team.

Meanwhile, Mansoor Ijaz's counsel Akram Shaikh has said that he has not received any letter of the attorney general. Shaikh said the attorney general called him at 11pm and said he was sending the reply of his letter.

6.2 quake hits near southern Mexico coast: USGS

MEXICO CITY: A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Mexico's southern coast on Saturday, US Geological Survey seismologists said, but initial reports indicated there were no injuries.

The quake occurred at a depth of 66 kilometers (41 miles) some 57 kilometers southwest of Mapastepec, in Chiapas state, and was felt as far away as San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.

Red Cross officials in the nearby town of Tapachula said there had been strong movement underfoot but no injuries, according to radio reports received from Mapastepec.

Much of Mexico lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where most of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

A historic 8.1-magnitude quake struck off Mexico's Pacific coast in 1985, and while it was centered 350 kilometers from Mexico City, it devastated the capital, killing at least 10,000 people. (AFP)

Conjoined twin babies shifted to NICH Karachi

KARACHI: The conjoined twin babies, born with one heart in Larkana, have been shifted to National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Karachi where decision of their surgery would be made after thoroughly checkup, Geo News reported.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed had issued directives to shift the conjoined twin babies to Karachi after 'Geo News' aired the news of their birth at Shaikh Zaid Hospital Larkana.

Wajida wife of Mazhar Ali Lakhair, resident of Nau Goth of Mehar Taluka had given birth to conjoined twin babies at Shaikh Zaid Hospital for Women in Larkana on Thursday evening.

The mother said that due to poverty she was not capable of paying for the treatment.

Govt in good health, won't quit: Awan

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday said the government was in very good health and it would not quit before completing its term, Geo News reported.

Talking to media men after condoling with the family members of Arfa Karim, the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) who lost her life at the age of 16 a few days ago.

"My and my government's health is very good," she remarked.

She said the President and Prime Minister have financed Rs1 million for establishment of Arfa Karim Foundation.

The Information Minister said the government would produce a documentary on the achievements of Arfa Karim.

Arfa Karim's father on the occasion said that Arfa Karim Foundation will work towards promotion of basic as well as IT education.

Karzai says he has spoken with Hizb-i-Islami

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday he had met a delegation from Afghan insurgent group Hizb-i-Islami for peace talks, a sign that he wants to assert his authority over a nascent peace process.

Weeks ago, the Taliban offered to open a political office in Qatar, a potential venue for possible peace talks with the United States and other countries. Karzai maintains Afghanistan should take the lead in talks, and wants to show he has the power to bring non-Taliban insurgents into the process.

The move is likely to be unpopular with Afghan voters, but displays Karzai's determination to demonstrate his authority, and gain control over any peace process for Afghanistan.

"Recently we had talks with delegations from the Hizb-i-Islami of Afghanistan led by His Excellency Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar," Karzai told the Afghan parliament on the opening day of its winter session.

"In these talks we expressed our point of view in a brotherly and friendly manner. We hope that our talks continue and bring beneficial results," Karzai said.

In the early 1990s, forces led by Hekmatyar, opposed to the government of then-president Burhanuddin Rabbani, took part infighting in Kabul which is thought to have killed tens of thousands. Hekmatyar quit Afghanistan in the mid-1990s, and his whereabouts have been unclear since then. (Reuters)

Mansoor Ijaz claims he has US support for Pakistan visit

LONDON: Repeating his claims of receiving threats from Pakistani officials on a daily basis, US businessman Mansoor Ijaz, has said he had now been assured by the US government of its support during his forthcoming visit to Pakistan.

Ijaz, who claimed to have delivered a controversial memo against the army to US Admiral Mike Mullen in May last year and accused then ambassador Husain Haqqani of being involved in crafting it, also says he would travel to Pakistan but would not say when.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News, Ijaz said he offered Haqqani to stop “telling lies” about him (Ijaz) and he would stop telling “the truth” about him (Haqqani) but said the former ambassador did not “stop”.

“I had a conference call with the US State Department a couple of days ago. The US government will provide the support that they always do for US citizens,” Ijaz said in the interview in London.

“They (the US government) made their official position very clear and I made my reasons for going very clear. They understand it’s a high profile case and they understand I am a reasonably high-profile American citizen,” he added.

“And I think If, god forbid, anything goes wrong they will certainly be there to help my family make sure that things got sorted out. I am absolutely confident that the American government will do the right thing if something went wrong,” he said without elaborating what could possibly go wrong.

Ijaz has been summoned by a judicial commission in Islamabad on January 24 (Tuesday), which was set by the Supreme Court following petitions on the issue moved by the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders and others.

The American national of Pakistani-origin was issued a one-year multiple-entry visa by the Pakistan High Commission on Thursday evening. Ijaz said he would travel to Islamabad but would not reveal his travel plans.

Ijaz appeared seriously distrusting of Pakistan government claims about his security. “Part of the problem is that you have government officials that are threatening me on a daily basis and I find that a little bit strange that from one corner of their mouth they are saying that I’m secure and at the same time they are threatening me too,” he said.

He said it was not just his personal protection that worried him but rather he was more concerned about the security of his family, businesses, the entire infrastructure around his life.

“I have to make sure that all of these things are attended to. I can’t just get up and recklessly go and do whatever I want to do,” he said but added that he did not want to “put an overburden on the system in terms of my personal security while I’m there”.

Ijaz explained he was a family man with a lot of personal, business and social commitments and wanted to make sure that “certain things had been addressed” to give everyone “peace of mind” when he travelled to Pakistan.

Ijaz praised the memo commission for addressing his concerns. He also appreciated the Pakistan army, which he said, had agreed to “do certain things that they have not agreed to do for anybody else and I very much appreciate that”.

“Now all of this has been dealt with, I’m ready to go in fact I want to get it over and done with,” Ijaz said. “I am very much looking forward to going to Pakistan and getting this whole thing behind us.”

Ijaz said he would present facts before the judicial commission, adding that it was a situation in which there as an “absolute need” to put the record straight and “then let the course of justice take whatever course it wants to go”.

“There is an absolute need to make sure that the truth is told. Absolute need to make sure that what was done by the officers of your (Pakistani) government in those days in questions are clarified,” he said.

He went on: “That’s exactly why I am going to take the evidence with me and put it on the table. I’m going to make sure everybody understands what that evidence means and then what happens with the evidence after that is, that’s entirely to the court and for the people of Pakistan to decide.

“I am looking forward to the cross-examinations that they give us because I’m taking the truth with me,” Ijaz said, adding that he did not fear being put on the Exit-Control List or being stopped from leaving Pakistan through any other mean after his testimony.

Answering a question about allegations levelled against him by Haqqani’s defence team and some key government functionaries, Ijaz said the anti-Pakistan charge on him was “all nonsense”. He said before the commission he would “lay out exactly what it is… (that) I have done to help Pakistan in the past 20 years as well”.

He alleged that Haqqani was “famous for having a selected memory” and promised that he would clarify the record on that as well. “I said this to Haqqani back in October/November (that) stop telling lies about me and I will stop telling the truth about you (but) they kept on telling the lies and I will keep on telling the truth”.

Responding to another question as to what prompted him to spill the beans, Ijaz said it was the Pakistani government’s attempts to cover up that made it a big issue and compelled him to take a stand what he believed was right.

“The people and the government responsible for this are saying ‘we didn’t do it’ and I have got the evidence that says they did. And so now that’s to the people of Pakistan to decide as my evidence correct or their supposition correct. That’s what we are going to find out,” said Ijaz.

Commemorative stamp in the memory of Arfa Karim

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday approved the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in the name of late Arfa Karim Randhawa, young Microsoft professional.

The Prime Minister gave the approval for issuance of a commemorative stamp in recognition of the achievements of Arfa Karim at such a younger age.

Arfa Karim Randhawa, who became the Microsoft certified professional at the age of nine, died of heart attack last week. (APP)

President Zardari meets Army chief Kayani

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met informally over tea at the presidency after the Nishan-e-Imtiaz ceremony for Admiral Asif Sandila on Friday.

According to sources the president and COAS discussed the recommendations of the parliamentary committee in regards to the Nato attack.

Matters relating to the country’s economic conditions were also discussed during the informal meeting.

Will wait for Pak to reassess ties: US

NEW DELHI: US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman said on Friday that the US would wait till Pakistan reassessed and re-evaluated the relationship between the two countries.

Grossman added the US was willing for dialogue at “any time, any point” when Pakistan was ready to reengage.

Grossman met with India Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and speaking to the media afterwards said the US supported the civilian government and democracy in Pakistan.

On the current confrontation in Pakistan, he said the US supports the civilian government and democracy in Pakistan.

"This is a question for Pakistanis. This is an internal question for them. They have their own ways of going forward and I would not comment any further on internal developments," he said.

No chance of dictators coming back: PM Gilani

LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said dictators who could not end corruption despite sloganeering about curbing it while holding powers for several years had no chance of returning,

He was addressing the convocation at a university in Lahore. He said the only stable position rests with the Almighty.

'The opposition is doing it's own work and the government would run as per the mandate accorded to them by the people.'

Every institution must work within the ambit of the Constitution, the prime minister said. 'We have strengthen the state organs by restoring the Constitution and my appearance before the court reflects that we respect judiciary.'

The joint session of Parliament would decide about the resumption of Nato supply. Gas crisis would be resolved within six months, PM Gilani said.

Pakistan record 10-wkt win over England in first Test

DUBAI: Pakistan defeated number one ranked England by ten wickets within three days to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Needing just 15 runs to win, openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufiq Umar completed the historic win in the fourth over of the innings.

Earlier, Pakistan bowlers again performed excellently to dismiss England for 160.

By-Polls be held on authentic voters lists : SC

ISLAMABAD: During proceedings of the computerised voters lists case the Supreme Court ruled that by-elections could not be held on the old lists as the Election Commission had itself admitted that 30 million votes were bogus.

The apex court ruled that by-elections should be held on authentic voters' lists and the Election Commission should ensure free and transparent polls.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till February 6.

No visa application from Mansoor Ijaz: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said on Thursday that Mansoor Ijaz had not applied for his Pakistani visa.

The FO spokesman added that no Pakistani mission had received the passport of Ijaz.

Commenting on Pak-US relations, Basit said that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had spoke with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and both countries were discussing various aspects of bilateral relations.

Basit further said that Nato supply lines had not been restored.