Kayani chairs Corps Commander meeting in Rawalpindi

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani chaired the Corps Commanders Meeting at the General Head Quarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Sources disclosed that the meeting discussed the Waziristan situation in detail after the death of Baitullah Mehsud. The meeting also discussed law and order situation in Swat after the return of IDPs. Pakistan’s internal and external situation also came under discussion. Statements by the former military officers were also talked about in the meeting, sources maintained.

Source by Dunya News

Pakistan concerned over reports of new India nuke test: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is concerned on reports that India is again preparing for a new nuclear test, Geo News reported Thursday.

In his weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said the recent US statements on nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer and nuclear proliferation are quite baseless, adding Pakistan like any other responsible country is full-fledged alive to its responsibility.

The spokesman said there are reports that India has a new nuclear test in the works, adding these reports are rather embarrassing to Pakistan; Pakistan is however steadfast on its policy of maintaining minimum defence deterrence and does not want arms race in the region.

Responding a query regarding Mumbai investigations, the spokesman said Pakistan is serious to take those responsible to the book; while, the dossier recently delivered to Pakistan by India is same as the previous one.

Spokesman said Pakistan is opposed to the thorough physical search of Dr Afia before presenting her to the court, adding if such search is conducted, Pakistan will not condone it.

Sources by The News

Aitzaz urges govt to register case against Musharraf

Former president of Supreme Court Bar Council Aitzaz Ahsan demanded the government to register case against former President Gen (rtd) Pervez Musharraf under Article-6 of the constitution. There is no need of parliament resolution or any judicial order for the purpose, he said. Aitzaz said Musharraf’s confessional statement has necessitated action against him. Those who are holding Musharraf trial as impossible, they are trying to save him, he said.

Source by Geo News

FO rejects U.S apprehensions on Dr Khan’s release

Pakistan Foreign Office has rejected American apprehensions on the release of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. The FO said Pakistan didn’t want to be a part of arm race however it would keep its nuclear power at minimum deterrence level. Giving a weekly briefing in Islamabad FO Spokesman Abdul Basit maintained, “Pakistan is a nuclear power and knows how to defend its nuclear assets”. The spokesman revealed Pakistan had offered India to have an agreement for not doing atomic experiments on regional level to which India didn’t have a positive response. “There are reports that India wishes to do more atomic tests,” the spokesman said. On a question about Dr Afia Siddiqi Basit conveyed Pakistan had reservations on the ‘detailed search’ of Dr Siddiqi, adding that Pakistan would take up the issue with U.S.

Source by Dunya News

US judge allows Pakistan’s lawyers to defend Dr Aafia

A US judge has allowed a team of lawyers appointed by Pakistan Government to defend Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuro-scientist, who is accused of trying to kill US officials in Afghanistan. The lawyers, hired by the government of Pakistan, are Ms Linda Moreno, Ms Elaine Sharp and Charles Swift. Another lawyer Chad Hadgar will assist the team. Judge Richard Berman described the new team of lawyers as a ‘strong defence panel’ while allowing them to represent Ms. Siddiqui when her trial begins on Nov 2. Dr Siddiqui said she didn’t want to get the services of lawyers appointed by Pakistan Government. The court showed anxiety over nude-search of Dr Siddiqui and instructed the jail administration to find some substitution to it. Pakistan Government’s appointed lawyer Moreno said that Dr Siddiqui was a daughter of Pakistan and it had right on her.

Source by Dunya News

Kerry-Lugar Bill: US cuts Pakistan aid to $174 million

U.S will provide Pakistan only $174 million for the budgetary support during 2009-10 out of $1.5 billion annual assistance under the Kerry-Lugar bill. The rest of the money will be spent through U.S institutions. Obama Administration has conveyed the decision to Pakistani Officials that it will spend $1.32 billion through its institutions. Pakistani officials have objected to this mode of aid while officials from both the sides are trying to resolve the issue. U.S wants to spend the said money without any intervention from the Pakistan Government while Pakistan says it should have the mandate to spend it. According to the Ministry of Finance, it has informed the U.S that if it doesn’t provide Pakistan with the promised money there is no substitute arrangement to fill the vacuum.

Source by Dunya news

Three sons of Sufi Muhammad arrested from Peshawar

Law enforcement agencies have arrested three sons of Sufi Muhammad, chief of the banned Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM), from Wazir Colony area of Peshawar. According to the sources, the men were arrested right after aftari along with a woman when forces raided a house in Wazir Abad to arrest Abdullah, Fazl Farooq and Abdul Rehman. They were shifted to unknown location. The arrested people came to Peshawar 25 days before. It is noteworthy that sensitive agencies arrested three sons of Sufi Rizwanullah, Ziaullah and Hayatullah from Sethi Town 40 days ago

Source by Dunya News

Britain deport two more Pakistani students after months detention

Two more Pakistani students have reached Pakistan after being deported from the UK on the accusations of plotting terrorist activities and London bomb blasts. Students complained that the British Government was responsible for ruining their future. Talking to the media at Lahore Air Port they revealed that they were imprisoned with dangerous murderers and criminals amid high security for several months. “We didn’t even know our crime,” they maintained. The students informed that Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan kept giving statements on their arrest and did nothing practical for their release. “It was only the Pakistani media that raised voice against the injustice meted out to us,” the students believed. The students added that they were arrested just on the suspicion charges and had nothing to do with terrorism. They strongly protested on being sent to Lahore Air Port by the British authorities while they were residents of Karachi. The currently deported students were among those 12 men, mostly students, who were arrested in high profile counter-terrorism raids across northwest England in April but never formally charged with any criminal offence because of insufficient evidence. Some of them are still being detained. They were refused bail at their hearing last month, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which deals with such cases had revealed. The arrest of the Pakistani students without evidence had run a wave of panic among the students and others working in UK. British high officials had also assured that justice would be done in Pakistani students' case and their future would not be put at stake.

Source by Dunya News

LHC suspends own decision to lift restrictions on Dr Khan

Lahore High Court has suspended own decision of lifting restrictions on the free movement of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. In its decision on Wednesday the court scrapped down its earlier decision of allowing fee moment to the nuclear scientist. Dr Khan in his petition filed in LHC had demanded that restrictions on his movements by the government should be lifted. The LHC after hearing the petition directed government to allow free movement to Dr Khan. Talking to Dunya News Dr Qadeer had said that everybody was allowed to meet him. He said he did not go outside, but no restrictions were noticed.

Reference by Dunya News

Transporters demand cut in PoL prices

Transporters on Tuesday have demanded drop in petroleum products and warned that the fares would be increased if otherwise. Petroleum prices were increased by Rs3 to 5 on Monday. The new petrol prices are Rs 65.26 per liter. OGRA will now get Rs 10 per liter under Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) and Rs 9 under general sales tax. According to the notification, on HOBC, Rs 14 will be charged under PDL and Rs 11.9 under sales tax. On kerosene oil Rs 6 will be charged under PDL and Rs 6.36 under sales tax. On light diesel Rs 3 will be charged under PDL and Rs 7.85 under sales tax. The new prices are applicable today.

Reference by Dunya News

KSE reaches at highest level of current year

Karachi Stock Market remained bullish today and 100index closed on 8,769 points which is the highest level of 2009. The business start in the shares market was positive today. Foreign buying put a positive impact on the market. Addition in the petroleum prices resulted in good business in the oil sector. On an occasion, 100index crossed the stage of 8,900 points however the market witnessed the mixed response after the selling by the local organizations. At the end of the business, the KSE 100index closed on 8,769 points with an addition of 93 points. The business volume remained 300 million shares. The Oil and Gas Development remained prominent with a share exchange of 30.84 million. The share price of OGD reached at Rs 110.98 with an addition of Rs 0.47.

Pakistan to lease 500,000 acre land to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arab will take 500,000 acre land on lease from Pakistan to meet its agricultural demands. An offer has also been made to buy the land from a Qatari investor. Ministry of Agriculture Regional Secretary Tauqir Ahmad Faiq told media that negotiations between the two countries were underway. He said that a Saudi delegation will visit Pakistan in this regard after Ramadan. The secretary revealed that the land given to Saudi Arabia would be equally distributed among four provinces, adding that it would be used to grow various crops including fruits and vegetables.

Reference by Dunya News