Iran denies role in Syria crackdown

Iran s government has denied allegations it is playing a role in Syria s bloody crackdown on political opposition.  But reports in the international press continue to contend that Iran is helping Syria militarily.

Iran s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said that Tehran is “not intervening” to help Syria s government repress its people. e described as “baseless,” allegations from the European Union that the Quds Brigade of Iran s Revolutionary Guards is involved in the Syrian crackdown.

During a news conference last week, Mehmanparast urged other countries “not to intervene in Syria s internal political crisis.”

Reports in the Arab and international press have accused both Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, of helping Syrian authorities deal with the popular uprising.

Former Iranian President Abolhassan Bani Sadr, now an exiled opponent of Iran s government, is among those who say Iran and Hezbollah are helping Syria in the crackdown.

He says the Iranian regime is helping Syria in every possible way.  He says he has information that 3,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards and 2,200 Hezbollah fighters are working with the Syrian government.  But he contends that Saudi Arabia is also intervening in Syria – on the opposition side.

Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University of Beirut, says Iran is in fact starting to distance itself from the Syrian regime, anticipating that it may fall.  He notes that Iran s Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, urged Syria last week to address its people s “legitimate demands.”

“The fact that the Iranians are beginning to talk to the Syrians and telling the regime to accommodate the  legitimate demands of the Syrian people  means that they are concluding that the regime in Damascus is unsalvageable. In the long run, the regime will collapse,” he said.

Khashan also says Iran has been trying to mend fences with the Gulf Arab states, perhaps as a prelude to a policy shift on Syria.  He notes that Iran s foreign minister met with the leader of Qatar last week to discuss developments in Syria.

“The Iranians are trying to find alternatives and that s why the Iranians are trying also to mend fences with the countries of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). A few days ago, the Emir of Qatar visited Tehran and the visit had to do with the beginning of the careful shift of the Iranian position vis-a-vis Syria,” Khashan stated.

Khashan says both Iran and neighboring Turkey are major regional power brokers, and that each country is working to change its policy toward Syria, slowly.  He says it s impossible for them to change their policy 180 degrees overnight, but that “they are preparing for it.”

Flood warning as widespread rains forecast in Pakistan

 Rains are forecast for lower Sindh, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Punjab. The rains are feared to make the streams and nullahs in these areas to brim and cause floods.

The Met Office says Punjab and Islamabad will receive rains from 30th August to 3rd September. Flood is feared in streams and nullahs of Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala and DG Khan Divisions.

Rains are forecast for the flood-hit areas of Sindh on Monday and Tuesday, while KPK is likely to receive rains from Sunday to Thursday. Flood is also feared in Nowshera.

Water level in Tarbela Dam has touched 1548.40 feet which is only 1.60 feet low to the its maximum conservation level of 1550 feet.
According to the data released by Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Saturday, the maximum water level in River Indus at Tarbela was 1548.40 feet which was 170.40 feet higher than its dead level of 1378 feet.

Water inflow in the dam was recorded as 207,200 cusecs while out flow was recorded as 177,600.

Similarly the water level in Mangla dam was risen to 1204.55 feet which is 5.45 feet below from its maximum conservation level of 1210 feet. The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla was 1204.55 feet which was 164.55 feet higher than its dead level of 1040 feet whereas the inflow and outflow of water was recorded as 21,905 and 12,000 cusecs respectively.

Dam Management Authorities are advised to take utmost care and vigilance in further filling of both the reservoirs and strictly follow filling criteria and safety guidelines.

Meanwhile, the IRSA released 297,155 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 336,660 cusecs.

The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa and Sukkur was recorded as 214,129, 135,006 and 75,180 cusecs respectively.

Similarly, from River Kabul a total of 44,000 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera and 63,555 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.
The quantity of accumulated water in the dam is estimated 6.5 million square feet which would be enough for cultivation of corn crop.

Brazil: Rio bus high jacking ends with three injured

According to police, some 20 passengers were on the bus when it was first taken. The hijackers then let 10 people go and kept the other 10 on the bus for another hour.

The authorities said that three of the hostages were seriously injured in the incident. One woman was shot in the chest and another passenger was shot in the neck. The circumstances surrounding the third injury were unclear. All three were taken to the hospital where their status remains serious.
Police officer Colonel Mario Sergio Duarte said the authorities did the best they could in the face of difficult circumstances.

“They (the hijackers) were heavily armed with grenades and the outcome was good as it could be. We were cautious and used all of our techniques, we had the support of other institutions and we achieved the hoped-for result, but unfortunately some people were hurt,” he said.

The streets around the bus were closed off as police evaluated the situation. Details on how the hijacking was resolved are sketchy, but gunfire was heard and then police surrounded the bus.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and expect to have more details.

NEPRA okays Rs.0.61/unit hike in power tariff

KARACHI: National Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has given approval to 61 paisa increase in electricity tariff per unit as it reserved verdict over increase of power tariff on Thursday, TrendPK reported.

According to NEPRA officials, the electricity tariff has been raised under monthly fuel adjustment charges.

Eight power distribution companies excluding Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) requested NEPRA to allow hike in tariff by Rs 0.61 per unit under monthly fuel adjustment charges, which would be implemented from the month of May.

The hearing was held on these applications on Thursday after which the decision was kept reserved by the authorities.

The approval will be applicable on all electricity consumers except KESC’s which will be charged in next months’ bills.

POL prices likely to slash by Rs. 5.45 per liter

ISLAMABAD: Prices of POL products are likely to be reduced up to Rs. 5.45 per liter from July 1 (tomorrow), TrendPK reported on Thursday.

According to sources, it is expected that total 6.3 percent reduction will be made in the petroleum products prices.

It is expected that petrol price will be cut by Rs. 5.45 per liter, high speed diesel by Rs. 3.99, light diesel by Rs. 1.13, high-octane by Rs. 3.85 and kerosene oil by Rs. 1.85 per liter.

The sources added that due to one percent cut in GST and reduction in crude oil’s prices in international market the authorities are set to give some relief to the POL products’ consumers in the country. TrendPK

Task Force to curb Gray Traffic, unauthorised SIMs

A high level meeting was held in the Ministry of Interior under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Interior, Senator Rehman Malik to examine the ways and means to curb Gray Traffic in Pakistan. Secretaries of Interior and Information Technology Ministries, Director General FIA, representatives of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other government departments were present on the occasion. Different issues were discussed in the meeting including capacity of monitoring system which is presently only 30% and needs to go to the level of 100%. Ministry of Information Technology has been requested to pursue the matter for sanction of funds.

People have been advised that all those who have got more than the prescribed limits of SIMs should surrender immediately to PTA as a thorough scrutiny of the SIMs has been ordered and any body found in possession of those SIMs shall be proceeded with in accordance with the law.
It was decided in the meeting that the punishment/penalty for the violators would be enhanced from three years to seven years and fine from Rs. 10 million to Rs. 50 million besides making it non-bailable offence.

It was also decided that 20 million cash reward shall be given to anyone who will point out the Gray Traffic to the authorities and 10% of the recovery will also be given to the informer.

A Task Force has been announced whereby a team will be headed by Director, FIA Shahid Nadeem Baloch and sub task forces comprising of representatives from ISI, IB, PTA and local police will also be constituted.

The Task Force will submit, every fortnightly, report of their progress on the cases/raids to curb gray traffic.

It has also been decided by the Government that there will be zero tolerance for gray traffic in Pakistan and its progress/monitoring shall be jointly done by the Secretary Interior and Secretary Information Technology.

Power outage triggers protest in Lahore

The total power generation of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has currently been recorded at 9,500 megawatt, while the demand has shot up to 15,500 megawatt, leaving a shortfall of 6,000 megawatt.

The duration of power outage in all major cities has been increased to 12 hours a day while in rural areas it has been increased to 18 hours.
Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) shut six grid stations in Lahore during the night between Sunday and Monday.

Various areas of the city suffered six to seven hours of power outage. People protested against the unscheduled load shedding of LESCO and chanted slogans against the authorities. The police was called to prevent an untoward incident.

The situation was no different in Karachi and in various areas of the city people spent the night with intermittent supply of power. According to the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, the power supply was suspended due to a technical fault.

Pakistani Trio Requested To Delay Verdict But Rejected

The decision of the spot fixing case hearing was scheduled to announce on 5th February. ICC tribunal took their time to announce the decision of the hearing. They consult for many hours. The main progress before the decision was the announcement by the authorities on the investigations against the players.

British law authorities had completed the investigations and also announced that notice had been issued to Mazher Majeed to appear before the British court. The Authorities said that they found Mazher Majeed culprit and they have asked him to appear before the court on 17th March.

Pakistani players have already submitted an undertaking that they will appear before the British court and defend themselves. Before the ICC verdict announced the lawyers of Pakistani cricketers had requested the tribunal to adjourn the decision.

The lawyers were of the view that the decision will affect the case against them in British court. The verdict came against the players and now they will have to appear before the court of law on 17th March. The players are having tough time and now they have to work hard to hard the situation. Muhammad Amir also decided to appeal against the decision. 5 year ban is more then he was expecting. According to ICC laws minimum ban is 5 years.

No let-up in Tunisia protests

Breaking News

Tunisian riot police stormed a protest camp to disperse demonstrators who have held a round-the-clock sit-in for five days demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi on Friday.

Protesters threw stones at police, who then fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, but security forces chased after the mostly rural and young protesters through narrow alleyways in central Tunis’ Casbah district before destroying their campsite and possessions.Police fired tear gas at demonstrators on a day many had hoped would see a return of calm to the country following Thursday’s (January 27) cabinet re-shuffle that saw many of the former faces in dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s regime leave, but some felt Ghannouchi should have gone too.President of the Tunisian Union for the Defense of Human Rights, Mukhtar Al-Tariki, explained that the Prime Minister had promised concessions.I told the prime minister to immediately stop the tear gas and stop using force, so that the people can decide what to do. He told me it had already been done. Now I arrive and I see that the tear gas had stopped, at least here. I asked the prime minister to release those arrested, he told me he was going to do it right away, and I asked for the army to retreat and stop clearing up the square, he promised me that he would do that too, said Mukhtar Al-Tariki.We tried to say to the authorities that what’s happening here is unacceptable, I told the Prime Minister in the morning not to do anything and to let the situation calm down naturally and we can find a negotiable solution, he added.Protesters who had camped outside the prime minister’s office for several days began negotiations with representatives of the interim government in the morning in a bid to end the stand-off but shortly before sunset, stone throwing youths were chased out of the area by riot police and soldiers.The force used by police will likely ring alarm bells for some Tunisians who fear old security practices will need substantial reform to protect human rights.Police tore down tents and kicked around their belongings before displaying weapons found in the abandoned possessions such as an axe, machete, and several knives.

US national kills 3 in Lahore

Lahore: An employee of US Consulate in Lahore killed three people in Lahore, trendpk.com reported on Thursday.

According to details, US national named Raymond David shot at 2 persons at Qartaba Chowk and hit another bike rider while driving rashly, in an attempt to to escape the scene. The motorcyclist Ubaidur Rehman was killed on the spot while other two injured – Faizan Haider and an unidentified person – succumbed to their injuries in the Services Hospital.

Police apprehended Steve David from Purani Anarkali and confiscated a pistol with bullets and three mobile phones from his possession. Police have taken Raymond’s car into custody and started investigation of the incident. The accused told the police that he opened fire on the deceased at Qartaba Chowk, Lahore in his defence as they tried to rob him.

SSP (security) Rana Faisal,while talking to trendpk.com, confirmed that the foreigner is a US citizen and the two deceased wanted to stop Raymond on gun point.

Taking serious notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif sought a comprehensive report from the authorities concerned.
US Embassy spokesman in Islamabad said that they are in contact with Pakistani government over the issue.

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