PM directs rehab of Atta Abad affectees by end Aug
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday directed return of Atta Abad affectees by end August and disbursement of Rs.315 million relief package to them.
Chairing a high level meeting here at the PM Secretariat Gilani directed the Gilgit-Baltistan government, National Disaster Management Authority and concerned ministries and departments to work in tandem to ensure the return of Atta Abad affectees by the deadline. He also directed disbursement of the relief package for the affectees on the pattern of the affectees of Swat-Malakand line.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, Secretary Finance, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority, Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan and Member Planning Commission.
Gilani said Rs.77 million have already been spent on food, medicine, shelter and transportation of Atta Abad lake affectees.
He also directed the Finance Ministry to release an additional amount of Rs. 80 million for further deepening and broadening of the spillway to drain out water from the lake at the earliest.
Out of Rs.15 billion Special Development Programme for Gilgit Baltistan,he said, the government has already allocated an amount of Rs. 3 billion in the current budget to bring the region at par with other areas of the country.
He also directed to ensure provision of relief goods to the people stranded in the upper part of the lake.
Chances of light rain
KARACHI: The Met office has forecast a partly cloudy/cloudy weather with chances of rain/drizzle in the metropolis for next 24 hours.
The maximum temperature will remain in the range between 33 to 35 degrees Centigrade.
Efforts underway to counter trends of sectarianism: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said the government was making efforts at bringing tolerance and understanding in the society in a phased manner to counter trends of sectarianism.
Addressing a book launching ceremony here at the PM Secretariat on “Subjects in Quran” by Zahid Malik, the prime minister said measures were being taken to make Pakistan a true citadel of Islam, by encouraging all to put aside their differences.
Gilani lauded the task of imparting knowledge about Quran in an easily understandable manner and assured that his government would do all within its means to support the sacred cause.
He regretted the “so-called think tanks” and the media in the West that equated the great religion of peace to the heinous acts of terrorism and said nothing could be far from truth.
He said the government would continue its efforts for sectarian harmony.
It was unfortunate that people had divided themselves on the basis of caste, colour, ethnicity, language and political ideas.
Gilani said all government and related departments had been instructed to look at difference of opinion among various religions in a right perspective and discourage the nefarious designs to flare up sectarianism.
Javed Hashmi shifted to Lahore
MULTAN: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Makhdoom Javeed Hashmi has been shifted to General Hospital Lahore from Nishter Hospital, Multan, Geo News reported Tuesday.
He suffered brain hemorrhage earlier today.
Farooq Sattar calls on PM Gilani
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the government is taking in confidence all stakeholders regarding negotiations over Pak-Afghan transit trade and Pak-US strategic dialogues, Geo News reported Tuesday.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar met the PM Gilani at the PM Secretariat and mulled over Afghan Transit Trade and Pak-US Strategic Dialogues.
The PM Gilani said the reconciliation policy buttressed the democratic process in the country.
He also directed to raise with the concerned authorities the issue relating the children being employed in camel race.
Some players not fit for test cricket: Afridi
LONDON: Former test captain Shahid Afridi said some players are not fit for test cricket but they are still playing.
In an interview, Afridi said I feel that there are some players who are not fit for the longer version of the game and my advice to them is to concentrate on the shorter forms.
He said this is the time to sort out players for test, one day and T20 form of game and should not declare every player fit for every form of cricket.
NA body critical of PCB men for ruining cricket
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee for sports has recommended disbanding of executive committee of Pakistan Olympics Association (POA).
Chairman Iqbal Muhammad Ali chaired the meeting of standing committee, which was held in Parliament House. The meeting reviewed the issues of POA.
Chairman at this occasion said that persons over 65 years of age should not be part of any sports body. He quoted the example of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and said elderly people sitting in PCB have ruined the cricket. Six captains have been change during one year. The meeting also criticizes the performance of POA and directed it that POA representative should attend next meeting with full preparation. It also directed dissolution of executive committee of POA on the basis of poor performance.
Gunmen kill 8 in attack on Nato convoy
ISLAMABAD: At least eight people were killed and six others sustained injuries when a group of militants attacked a convoy in the federal capital area that was ready to take supplies for Nato forces fighting in Afghanistan.
The Capital City Police with Elite Force and Rangers have cordoned off the area and started a search operation in and around Sang Jani but no arrest was reported till the filing of this report.
Unidentified armed men opened fire at a convoy of over 30 vehicles including trailers carrying supplies and vehicles and tankers carrying oil for the Nato forces in Afghanistan near Sang Jani, a few kilometres short of Taxila on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road at around mid-night on Tuesday.
All the vehicles caught fire and despite all out efforts by the fire fighters rushed to the spot by the Disaster Management Directorate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Rawalpindi Municipal Authority, the fire could not be brought under control for late.
According to very initial assessment by the Islamabad Police there seems to be at least six assailants who opened fire at these trailers from different directions. A small contingent of the Islamabad Police from Tarnol police station rushed to the spot but were unable to get any closer because of heavy firing by the terrorists who attacked the vehicles when the convey was about to leave the yard where they were loaded during the day.
Inspector General of Islamabad Police Syed Kaleem Imam told Geo news that apparently the terrorists came from Taxila direction, riding on motorbikes and they also had the back-up support. “After attacking the convoy and setting the vehicles on fire these terrorists continued to fire indiscriminately to prevent any rescue and relief operation,” the IGP said.
He also said that the suppliers of Nato had very poor security in goods loading yard, which caused this attack on their supplies. “They had their own security system in place and we (Islamabad Police) were not approached for providing them any protection,” Kaleem Imam said.
Media reported that during the day these oil tankers were filled from the local oil terminal while other supplies, including vehicles and other items, were also loaded on the trailers. It was at around mid-night that this convoy was ready to start heading for Peshawar on way to Torkham to cross into Afghanistan that the terrorists struck.
Eyewitnesses said that at least 15 attackers riding double cabin vehicles and motorcycles and equipped with sophisticated weapons reached the yard at about 12:00 midnight and opened firing at Nato ling wheelers, adding that they were carrying hand grenades and patrol bombs and they hurled patrol bombs at oil tankers and set it on fire one by one.
The police claimed that the terrorists were still in the area and continued shooting at the trailers and oil tankers for over an hour during enflaming the long wheelers. The law enforcing agencies were chasing the terrorists who are scattered in the area and trying to hunt them down.
The police sources told media that among the dead two drivers — Muhammad Aslam belonging to Mianwali and Muhammad Arif (Islamabad) — could be identified while one was unidentified, adding that Irfan Haider son of Ghulam Baqar, among six, was in critical condition.
SP Saddar Hakim Khan suspended
ISLAMABAD: Inspector General Islamabad has suspended SP Saddar Hakim Khan, Geo news reported.
According to sources, the decision came in the backdrop of attack on Nato-supply containers by unidentified gunmen which resulted in killing of eight persons and leaving six injured while as many as 30 supply containers, trailers, and tankers were also torched completely.
Meanwhile, Captain Malik Liaquat has been deputed as SP Saddar Islamabad in place of deposed Hakim Khan.
Federal Home Minister Rehman Malik has also ordered the Chief Commissioner and IG Islamabad to hold judicial inquiry into tragedy.
Malik also directed them to submit inquiry report within three days, sources added.
Akhter, Malik shirk media eye at NCA
LAHORE: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhter and former captain Shoaib Malik have reached National Cricket Academy (NCA) to give fitness test.
Both the players have refused to give fitness test in front of media. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also directed the media to leave the Academy. The selection of the both the players for Asia Cup depends upon fitness test.
