Stern accountability of national wealth looters: Shahbaz PML-F to join government at centre IRFAN ALIGI
Bar on paying power dues H ANGU—Barring the locals from paying power dues, the grand tribal jirga of Hangu has imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 on those who violate the decision. The grand tribal jirga of Hangu has decided not to pay electricity dues in an effort to mark protest against the prolonged hours of loadshedding. According to a report, the citizens of Hangu are facing 22 hours of loadshedding while the intense power cuts have also resulted into water shortage. The next jirga will be held on May 27.—Online
Roadside bomb injures 3 cops DIR—A roadside bomb hit a police van in Upper Dir on Saturday, injuring three security personnel. It was an improvised explosives device blast, according to police. The police mobile was pasting from Sahibabad area of Upper Dir at the time of the explosion.—Online
Infant girl thrown from 6th floor KARACHI—A newly born baby girl was overnight thrown out of a flat located in the city area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar; the infant died on the spot. According to the local people, it seems the child was born a few hours ago. The cruel parents killed her by tossing her out of their flat at sixth storey of the building. Police, arriving on the scene, kickstarted the investigations; however, no arrests have so far been made.—Online
Funeral prayers of 7 cops held P ESHAWA R —The funeral prayer of seven policemen who were martyred in terrorist attack offered in Matni on Saturday. Some unidentified miscreants on Friday had ambushed DPO Kohat Dilawar Bangash car resultantly six cops died on the spot and their collective funeral prayer was offered in police line. Later on, the dead bodies were sent to their ancestral villages for burial. Meanwhile, Amir Afridi funeral prayer was also offered in Peshawar police line who died in target killing attack during search operation and his dead body was sent to his ancestral village for burial.—Online
BEd, MEd exams from June 25
KARACHI—Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) on Saturday officially invited the Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PMLF) to join the government at centre which was accepted by the PML-F. Further both the parties would sit together in the provincial assembly of Sindh as the opposition parties and would perform as the toughest opposition to the government. The issues that had wreaked havoc on people of Sindh would also be taken on top of the priority list. This was decid3ed in a meeting between the PMLN leader and Punjab Chief Minister-elect Mian Shahbaz Sharif ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry chairing the meeting of Judicial and PMLF patron-in-chief Pir Commission of Pakistan in Supreme Court. Pagara at the Raja House in Karachi. Sharif had arrived in the city at noon on one day visit and had left for Lahore in the early evening hours. Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan and Senator Pervez Rasheed had accompanied him while Imtiaz Shaikh, Ghous Bux BEIRUT—Syrian government destroy the city house by house.” Assad family rule began as OBSERVER REPORTER Maher and Pirzada Yasir were Rebels are largely sur- peaceful protests but devolved K HYBER forces and the Lebanese guerilla A GENCY —A group Hezbollah launched a rounded in Qusair, a town of into an armed conflict that has Khasadar force (tribal militia) in fierce campaign to seize more 30,000 that has become a strate- killed more than 80,000 people. Khyber Agency have foiled a Assad’s forces are believed rebel territory in the border town gic battleground. Assad’s forces plot after having seized 1750 of Qusair on Saturday, sources on want to take the area to secure a to have seized about two-thirds kilograms of explosives from a both sides of the conflict said. route between the capital Dam- of Qusair, but the price has been pickup on the main Pak-Afghan Rebels fighting to topple ascus and his stronghold on the high and rebels insist they are Highway near Jamrud. Three President Bashar al-Assad said Mediterranean coast, effectively preventing any further advances. accused individuals have been A fighter from Hezbollah LONDON—British police aradditional tanks and artillery had dividing rebel-held territories in forces in Qusair told Reuters that arrested. been deployed around opposi- the north and south. The Assistant Political rested a man under anti-terrorism The opposition has been advances were happening at a tion-held territory in Qusair, a Agent Jehangir Azam Wazir laws at BBC headquarters after an Syrian town close to the Leba- fighting back, seeing it as criti- very slow pace. confirmed that explosives have interviewee said security services cal to maintain cross-border sup“We are in the second phase nese border. been seized near Bagyari tried to recruit one of the two men “I’ve never seen a day like ply routes and stop Assad from of our plan of attack but the ad- checkpost by the Khasadar force arrested after a soldier was hacked this since the battle started,” said gaining a victory they fear may vance has been quite slow and during checking. The vehicle to death in a London street. Michael Adebolajo, 28 and Malek Ammar, an activist speak- give him the upper hand in pro- difficult. The rebels have mined was traveling from Jamrud to ing from the town by Skype. posed U.S.-Russia led peace talks everything, the streets, the Tirah valley when it was seized. Michael Adebowale, 22, are un“The shelling is so violent and next month.Syria’s two-year up- houses. Even the refrigerators are “Three accused who were der armed guard in hospital afheavy. It’s like they’re trying to rising against four decades of mined.”—Reuters shifting the explosives have been ter being shot and arrested by arrested and have been identified police on suspicion of the muras Khalid, Sattar and Mothaar. der of 25-year-old Lee Rigby, a veteran of the Afghan war, on Wednesday. A man identified by the BBC as Abu Nusaybah told its flagship news program “Newsnight” that intelligence officers had approached Adebolajo six months MAKHACHKALA, RUSSIA— A radicals and federal forces. IsSTAFF REPORTER ago to see if he would work for female suicide bomber blew lamic extremists strive to crean independent Muslim Y ANGON — Authorities in them as an informant. He said ISLAMABAD—Chairman Na- herself up in the southern Rus- ate state, or “emirate,” in the Myanmar’s western Rakhine Adebolajo had refused. tional Accountability Bureau sian region of Dagestan on SatCaucasus and parts of southern state have imposed a two-child BBC reporter Richard urday, injuring at least 18, inAdmiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari, on Saturday submitted his re- cluding two children and five Russia with a sizable Muslim limit for Muslim Rohingya Watson, who conducted the infamilies, a policy that does not terview, said police were waiting sponse in the Supreme Court on police officers, authorities said. population. In Saturday’s attack, the a petition challenging his ap- The attacker was later identi- bomber detonated an explo- apply to Buddhists in the area pointment as the bureau’s chief, fied as a widow of two Islamic sives-laden belt in the central and comes amid accusations of radicals killed by security ethnic cleansing in the aftermath DawnNews reported. square in the provincial capital, of sectarian violence. Bokhari’s lawyer Latif forces. It was the first suicide Makhachkala, Dagestan’s poLocal officials said Saturday Khosa submitted his client’s rebombing in Dagestan since the lice spokesman Vyacheslav that the new measure would be sponse to the apex court. Gasanov said. applied to two Rakhine townSTAFF REPORTER The reply maintains that the Boston Marathon attacks last The woman was identified ships that border Bangladesh month. said petition was filed by The Tsarnaev brothers sus- as Madina Alieva, 25, who mar- and have the highest Muslim KARACHI—Muttahida Qaumi Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in orMovement (MQM) said that it der to malign the president and pected of carrying out those ried an Islamist who was killed populations in the state. The was yet pre-mature on behalf of in 2009 and then wedded anblasts are ethnic Chechens who townships, Buthidaung and win political favours for the pesome reports carried by the metitioner during the 2013 general lived in this turbulent Caucasus other Islamic radical who was Maundaw, are about 95 percent dia that the MQM had finally degunned down last year, police Muslim. The unusual order province before moving to the elections. Furthermore, the spokeswoman Fatina makes Myanmar perhaps the cided to joining the government NAB chairman said the petition U.S. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the el- Ubaidatova said. only country in the world to or sit on the opposition benches. was ineffective, following the der brother who was killed in a The confusion was created by Since 2000, at least two shootout with police days after impose such a restriction on a end of Chaudhry Nisar’s tenure translating some points of the lecdozen women, most of them the April 15 bombings, spent religious group, and is likely to as the opposition leader. He ture that the MQM chief Altaf added that the public had dis- six months in Dagestan in 2012. from the Caucasus, have car- fuel further criticism that Mus- Husain had delivered to members ried out suicide bombings in lims are being discriminated Dagestan remains an epimissed the former opposition Russian cities and aboard against in the Buddhist-major- of the dissolved coordination leader from both his provincial center of violence in the con- trains and planes.—AP committees and other departfrontation between Islamic ity country.—AP and national assembly seats.
Hezbollah, Syria govt forces push for advance in Qusair
UK police arrest man after spy claim in soldier case
Bokhari submits reply over petition against his appointment
Woman suicide bomber injures 18 in Russian region
2-child limit for Muslims in parts of Myanmar
to arrest Nusaybah after the interview had finished on Friday. The pre-recorded interview was broadcast later that evening. London’s Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism officers had arrested a 31-year-old man at 2030 GMT on “suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”. A police spokesman said the arrest was made at the BBC building, but did not confirm the man’s identity. He also said the arrest was not directly linked to the soldier’s murder. He would not comment on the BBC interview. A source close to the investigation told Reuters earlier this week that both men suspected to have attacked the soldier were known to Britain’s MI5 internal security service. However, intelligence officers thought neither man posed a serious threat.—Reuters
MQM has all options to sit on treasury or opposition benches ments, which in particular was an analysis explaining that staying in powers caused the elected representatives to deviate from their assigned responsibility of addressing the people’s grievances. In this regard, the MQM Information Department in a statement issued Saturday said that the options for the MQM whether to join a party and join the government in coalition or sit on the opposition benches were all open and no final decision in this regard was yet taken.
mier of the country. He said that both the parties had agreed to take a unanimous stance for resolving the issues and play their roles for the development and progress of the province of Sindh. Sharif said that the country was facing assorted crises especially the energy crisis and the deteriorated law and order, which the PMLN-led government would address and bring improvement. He said that it was an irony that Karachi had lights while there were blackouts in Lahore. The PMLN knew the reasons behind the prolonged load shedding and the PMLN-led government would resolve all such issues as per the aspiration of the people. He said that the people had elected the PMLN and they would soon see that the country’s resources would be spent for the betterment of the people. The people would soon earn, who had exploited the resources and deprived the people from the benefits.
Hearing of Musharraf bail plea tomorrow ISLAMABAD—The Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court has constituted two member division bench to hear on Monday Musharraf’s plea in judges’ detention case against ATC’s verdict cancelling his bail. The two-member bench comprises Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan and Justice Shoukat Aziz Siddiqui. Former President General (R) Pervez Musharraf had moved Islamabad High Court on Friday challenging the cancellation of his bail by Anti Terrorism Court in judges’ detention case.—APP
Jordan plans major exercises with 18 countries AMMAN —More than 15,000 soldiers from 18 different countries will take part in a joint military exercise in Jordan in the coming weeks, a military official said on Saturday. Jordan’s armed forces will host the exercise, “Eager Lion 2013”, with troops from “friendly countries”, including the United States, taking part, the official Petra news agency cited the official as saying. They will participate in battlefield, logistics and humanitarian exercises alongside troops from Britain, Bahrain, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France,Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen he added. –APP
Norwegian parliament seeks early solution of Kashmir conflict RAO ATIQ
MIRPUR—The Norwegian ParS ARGODHA —University of liament has conducted an imporSargodha announced the schedule of B.Ed, M.Com, M.Ed and other examinations. A university press release said on Saturday that first annual examination (2013) of BEd will held on June 25. Similarly, examinations of Form D (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Prof), MCom (part-2), M Ed , MBA (part 1&2), Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Architecture ( 2nd annual) would also be held on June 25 (Tuesday). — APP
Explosives seized in Jamrud, three suspects held
present from the PMLF side. Sharif had conveyed a message of PMLNB Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif to Pir Pagara and felicitated him on winning seats in the general elections-2013 for the national and provincial assemblies. Both the leaders had agreed to place a joint leader of opposition in the provincial assembly of Sindh so that they could perform as strong opposition in the provincial assembly. Pagara while speaking on the occasion said that the PMLF would continue to support the PMLN unconditionally. Later, Sharif while talking to the newsmen said that he had arrived in the city on the directives of PMLN Chief Mina Nawaz Sharif for felicitating the PMLF chief over his success in elections and to discuss various issues of bilateral interest. He said that he had on behalf of the PMLN chief offered the PMLF to joiningn the PMLN-led government in the centre and to visit Islamabad to attend the oath taking ceremony of the PMLN chief as the Pre-
tant debate for the second time in a year emphasizing for settlement of the Kashmir conflict, according to an AJK PID press release issued on Saturday. “An earlier debate was held in September 2012 when the Norwegian parliament raised the issue of existence of unidentified mass graves in occupied Kashmir”, it said adding that the interpolation entitled “Kashmir on the backdrop of withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan in
2014” was submitted for a debate by the Chairman of the Norwegian parliamentary Kashmir Committee and Christian Democrat (KRF) Party leader Mr. Knut Arild Hareide. The debate, which lasted for nearly one hour, had the intervention of all major political parties, parliamentarians and representatives. During the debate, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Espen Barth Eide stated that it is very important to closely monitor and contribute to a united world community seeks to assist both countries in this tense situation. He outlined that the conflict between
India and Pakistan has deep historical roots: “There are many challenges associated with Kashmir. I do not think that a solution will be found in a kind of breakthrough, where everything suddenly negotiated done. While mentioning the recent elections for a new parliament in Pakistan Mr. Barth declared that it clearly shows a change of attitudes. The election campaign was neither India nor Kashmir, in any case. He believes that it also suggests that a shift in the mood became clear when the election outcome occurs. Pakistan’s incoming Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif
wants closer relations with India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has responded by inviting the newly elected Pakistani prime minister to visit. This, he believes is a very positive step. About the India and Pakistan’s willingness to resolve the issues by dialogue he said “it is good to know that there is broad consensus that this is a major issue. It has strong regional dimensions. It affects those who live in Kashmir. It affects India and Pakistan, and it touches the region. It is of course quite right that now that the region is moving, it is a reasonable time to ask questions
about what kind of impact it will have on the long-standing Kashmir conflict, not least when it comes to the risk that groups that have been fighting in Pakistan and Afghanistan can choose to go to Kashmir.” Additionally, Mr. Knut Arild Hareide while warning both the countries for ignoring the Kashmir conflict, he emphasized “what more than anything else can destroy a better relationship between India and Pakistan is the conflict around Kashmir. This is a regressive wound in the relationship between governments and a continuing tragedy for the Kashmiri
people. In the region there is a fear of a renewed wave of violence and terrorism after 2014” The latest skirmish may yet be an indication of the increasing problems the two countries will face in the future when the US-led war in Afghanistan and the Pakistan struggle with regaining control over militant groups in its territory end”. Stressing on the need to improve the negotiating atmosphere he said “it is important that both these (neighbouring) countries help build mutual trust and reduce fear and hatred. About execution of Afzal Guru in February, he said, Norway is
against the death penalty and urges all countries to refrain from it. This is a principle which of course must apply in this region”. Mr. Svein Roald Hansen who highlighted the historical and humanitarian aspect of the conflict said “There has been a conflict area with three wars, a strong military presence and repeated tensions and confrontations between India and Pakistan. It is a conflict that undermines fundamental human rights of the 10 million people who live there”