Sakhi Sarwar blasts: Dozens suspects held

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Police have arrested dozens of suspects for their involvement in Sakhi Sarwar shrine blasts where 50 devotees were martyred and over 100 wounded on last Sunday.

Police got initial information from Umar Fidai, who was held in connection with the blasts, and arrested dozens of men including employees of a hotel. All suspects have been taken to unidentified location for further investigation.

Umar informed police that he stayed at Al-Madina Hotal situated in Faridi Bazaar on March 28 and 29. TrendPK

Surveillance cameras were not working at Ghazi’s shrine: Sindh CM

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah accepted on Friday that the surveillance cameras installed around Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine were not working.

He said this while talking to journalists after visiting those injured from the blasts admitted in Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Center.

Sindh CM said that the conspiracy of the attacks would be disclosed soon, adding that law enforcement agencies have had success probing the twin blasts at Ghazi’s shrine. It is too early to disclose anything, he added.

He said that Ghazi’s shrine will reopen by tomorrow (Saturday). SAMAA

10 killed, Oover 50 Injured in Karachi Shrine Blasts

KARACHI, News Trends: Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside the crowded shrine of Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi at Clifton, killing at least ten people and injuring more than five on Thursday.

Rescue sources said deadbodies of ten people were shifted to Jinnah Medical Center where emergency has been declared. More than 50 injured people have been shifted to Jinnah hospital, Seemi Jamali, incharge emergency ward of the hospital said.

The first blast took place when a suicide bomber blew himself up at central gate of the Shrine while the second attacker blew himself minutes later outside the shrine, damaging number of shops.

Eyewitnesses said subsequent stampede injured dozens of people including women and children. They were seemed crying out for the help.

Edhi and other rescue teams arrived at the scene and rushed the injured to hospitals. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers cordoned off the area.

The shrine was fully packed with people at the time of blast as women and children usually come to visit the mausoleum on Thursday.

The tomb of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is located at perched on a hilltop overlooking Clifton Beach, Karachi. Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s tomb attracts a steady stream of devotees who shuffle forward to caress the silver railing around the burial place and drape it with garlands of flowers.

Officials say the blasts were suicide attacks while the bomb disposal squad has also claimed to have recovered heads and body parts of the two alleged suicide attackers.

The Minister for Interior Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, confessing security laps in the incident, ordered to seal the shrines across the city. Security has been beefed up across the city.

Several attacks have targeted Pakistan’s mosques and shrines in recent years, many of them blamed on militant groups. Some 38 people were killed on July 1,2010 in triple suicide bombing at Data Darbar in Lahore.

Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi was a ninth-century sufi who is believed to be a patron saint of Karachi. People, most of them Muslims, come here to pay homage to him from across the country.

Karachi: 8 killed in twin blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine

At least 8 people were killed and several others sustained injuries in twin suicide blasts near shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Dunya News reported on Thursday. Taliban claimed the responsibility of attacks.
According to Dunya News correspondent, the blasts occurred near walk-through gates of the tomb. According to Secretary Auqaf, 8 people were killed in the blasts. Panic prevailed after the incident. Police and law enforcing agencies cordoned off the tomb.
Emergency was imposed in Karachi hospitals and paramedical staff was immediately called. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals including Jinnah Hospital. Situation of some of the injured is stated to be critical.
Sindh Chief Minister said that a committee has been formed to probe the suicide blasts. IG Sindh said that final report of the blasts would be submitted tomorrow.
President Zardari was in the Bilawal House when the blasts occurred in Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine. Security around Bilawal House was increased after the incident.
The Mausoleum and Dargah of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is located in Clifton, neighbourhood of Saddar Town in Karachi.

Karachi: 12 killed in twin blasts at Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine

At least 12 people have been killed and several others sustained injuries in twin suicide blasts near shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Dunya News reported on Thursday.
According to Dunya News correspondent, both the blasts were occurred near walk-through gates of the tomb. According to Secretary Auqaf, 10-12 people have been killed in the blasts. Panic prevailed after the incident. Police and law enforcing agencies cordoned off the tomb and relief activities have been started.
Emergency has been imposed in Karachi hospitals and paramedical staff has been called. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals including Jinnah Hospital. Situation of some of the injured is stated to be critical.
President Zardari was in the Bilawal House when the blasts occurred in Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine. Security around Bilawal House was increased after the incident.
The Mausoleum and Dargah of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is located in Clifton, neighbourhood of Saddar Town in Karachi.

Apple and Google to clash in music space by Christmas

NEWYORK: Google Inc is in talks with music labels on plans for a download store and a digital song locker that would allow its mobile users to play songs wherever they are as it steps up its rivalry with Apple Inc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Google’s Andy Rubin, the brains behind Google’s Android mobile operating system, has been leading conversations with the labels about what a new Google music service would look like, according to these sources.

Rubin, Google’s vice president of engineering, hopes to have the service up and running by Christmas, two of these people said.

The music industry hopes to benefit from a battle for control of the mobile phone and computer desktop between Apple and Google as both technology giants go head-to-head in a wide range of media and consumer technology areas including online TV and movies, mobile phones,

Madonna’s daughter makes film debut

LOS ANGELES: Queen of Pop Madonna’s teenage daughter Lourdes will make her big screen debut in her mother’s much hyped directorial venture W.E.



The 13-year-old, billed as Lola Leon in the film credits, was spotted on the set shooting in a school uniform, according to reports.



It’s not known yet exactly what part she’s playing and how big her role will be.



Before she changed into her costume, Lourdes had joined her mother on the shoot with brothers Rocco and David to see what progress was being made yesterday.



Madonna was shooting in Mayfair outside hotel Claridges, as well as outside a makeshift Downing Street located in Aldwych.



W.E, Madonna’s second film as a director, tells the story of Edward VIII’s relationship with Wallis Simpson.

Drug shootout with army kills 25 in Mexico

MEXICO CITY: At least 25 suspected drug gang members were killed in an army raid in rural northeastern Mexico on Thursday, the army said in a press release.

Soldiers were sent to the location after an airborne patrol sighted armed men outside a building. Fighting began when the men opened fire on the troops.

Three people who presumably had been kidnapped by the gang were freed following the fighting. Two soldiers were wounded.

Troops seized 23 vehicles, including two painted in army colors, two dozen guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

The clash was originally reported to have taken place in the state of Nuevo Leon, where business hub Monterrey is located, but actually took place across the border in neighboring Tamaulipas.

Tamaulipas state has become one of Mexico’s bloodiest drug flashpoints since the start of the year as rival

NAB sentences Sohail Zia three years prison term

Staff Report

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has sentenced PML-N leader and a close relative of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, Sohail Zia Butt, three years in prison, said sources on Friday.

According to sources, he got three year term when he didn’t appear in the court as he was declared a proclaimed offender by the court in 2001.

NAB court has sentenced him three year prison term today (Friday).

During case hearing, Sohail Zia Butt said that how he would appear in court when he didn’t get any notice.

NAB rejected Butt arguments and said he can file petition in Lahore High Court (LHC) against his prison term.

According to NAB officials, Sohail Zia Butt had taken loan from National Industrial and Credit Finance Corportation and didn’t return the same.

A reference was also sent to the NAB in 2001 after Sohail Zia

Security in Lahore beefed up for the last Friday of Ramadan

Staff Report

LAHORE: After the blasts at Karbala Gamey Shah on Wednesday, security in Lahore has been notched up to a great degree for the last Friday of Ramadan.

On the last Friday of Ramadan, masses of people offer Friday prayers in mosques and other large gatherings. On this day, there is a significant increase in the number of people at mosques and other places.

After the recent incident of terrorism in Lahore, authorities have made very special security arrangements for today’s Friday prayers.

According to new security measures in the city, during Friday prayers, heavy contingents of police have been deployed to patrol mosques and other places of gathering.

The concerned authorities have put all law enforcement agencies on high alert to overcome any possible threat and emergency situations. SAMAA

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