Chatta elected chairman, Arbab president of PML-Likeminded

 

Humayun Akhtar Khan would be Secretary General of the party.

 

The meeting of general council of PML (Likeminded) was held under the chairmanship of Senator Salim Saifullah Khan to elect new leadership of the party for the tenure of next three years.

 

The meeting also elected Salim Saifullah for the slot of Chairman Steering Committee, whereas Kashmala Tariq was elected Information Secretary.

 

After elections, newly elected Chairman of Likeminded Hamid Nasir Chatta said while speaking to the general council that they have always promoted democracy within party. It is not the party of a particular family, but it is the party of the nation.

 

“We have rejected the ancestral politics. We chose our President from a smaller province, which reflects that the party is committed to give right to the entire province.”

 

He said that discussion on Baluchistan in the committee of US Congress is an unconstitutional act. It is in fact matter of embarrassment for the whole nation. He said that government took loans during four years which is more than the total debt the country had taken in sixty years.

 

Arbab Ghulam Rahim addressed the meeting through video link. He said that fair, free and impartial elections are not possible in presence of sitting rulers. He said that they will snatch the Sindh card from the PPP.

 

Humayun Akhtar Khan said that the 2012 is the general election year and the party would have to complete its preparedness for the polls within shortest span of time.

 

Earlier, besides election, general council discussed prevailing political situation of the country, conflict between national institutions, law and order situation, target killing in Baluchistan, threats to national integrity, corruption, dearness and drug scandal in Punjab in detail. –Online
 

Whitney Port allegedly dating her show’s former producer

TrendPK.com: Former reality TV star Whitney Port split from her longtime beau, ‘The Buried Life’s’ Ben Nemtin, last summer, but she has apparently moved on to someone she’s known for quite a bit.

Port is allegedly dating a former associate producer with ‘The City,’ Tim Rosenman, after having a crush on him for some time, states UsMagazine.com. The two reportedly kept in touch after her reality show ended, but didn’t start dating until some time after her split with Nemtin.

Port and Rosenman allegedly vacationed together this January in Miami.

Do you think she’s found the right guy?

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Salman misses Rohit Dhawans wedding in Goa

The one thing that can safely be said about the mercurial Salman Khan is that he is a yaaron ka yaar. Having done a number of very successful films with David Dhawan including the career-defining Judwaa and Biwi No. 1, Salman has over the years, become so close to Dhawan that it’s generally a toss-up as to who’s a closer to David: Govinda or Salman.

Govinda was in Goa for David’s son Rohit’s wedding yesterday (Friday). Salman, alas, couldn’t make it. Shooting in far-off Cuba for Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, Salman actually planned to travel back to Goa for a day and attend the wedding before flying back.

Says a source close to David, “David was very keen to have Salman over. He spoke to Salman and Salman spoke to Kabir to be allowed to fly back. But the travel plan from Havana to Goa sounded too gruelling. At the moment with Salman’s neurological condition, he’s been advised to cut down on his travel. Also, Kabir’s unit is working on a very tight schedule. And since Salman and Katrina are doing intricate action sequences, stopping the shooting for four days would have meant huge losses for Yash Raj.”

Apparently, David told Salman to let it go. Salman agreed. But on condition that his brother Sohail reach the Goan venue for the wedding well in advance to represent bade bhaiyya Salman.

Speaking from Goa, David says affectionately, “Yes, Salman really wanted to join us here in Goa. He’s part of my family. But it was impossible for him to travel. Salman’s entire family Arbaaz, Sohail, Baby (sister Alvira) are here. Sohail arrived a day in advance to lend a helping hand.”

Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Ranbir Kapoor arrived on Friday morning. The Kapoor family had just returned from Delhi after attending a wedding in Rishi’s daughter’s sasuraal.

Says David, “I feel blessed. I haven’t made so much money in my career. But I’ve earned this goodwill that’s reflected in the guest list for the first wedding in my family. All the people, whom I’ve been associated with professionally and personally, are here for my son’s wedding. Sanjay Dutt and Govinda who have been with me from the start of my career, Rishi and Ranbir, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Lolo (Karisma Kapoor), Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, producer Vashu Bhagnani…they are all here.”

Earlier David planned a very private family wedding for his son. “But a small wedding was impossible. All these are stars are not just my actors, they’re part of my family.”

Ironically, David’s younger son Varun couldn’t get to Goa in advance. He reached on Friday.

Explains David, “Varun was shooting with Karan Johar for Student Of The Year. Much as we wanted him here in Goa in advance, he couldn’t join us. But that’s okay. My wife has taken care of every detail. My sons and I only had to attend. Biwi ho to aisi. I am a lucky man.”

“Modern Family” star Ty Burrell added to cast of “Jackie Brown” prequel

By Sean O’Connell
TrendPK.com: Are you interested in a “Jackie Brown” prequel if Quentin Tarantino isn’t involved? How about if a cast member of “Modern Family” holds down a leading role?

Because EW is confirming that Ty Burrell, the loveable suburban dad on ABC’s smash comedy, has earned a role in writer-director Dan Schechter’s planned “Jackie Brown” prequel, titled “The Switch.” According to the site, Burrell will play Marshall Taylor, a “guilt-riddled country clubber who witnesses the kidnapping of a woman he secretly desires.”

Like Tarantino’s effort, Schechter’s film will be adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, though the action in this story takes place 15 years before “Brown.”As of right now, John Hawkes and Mos Def have been cast as Louis Gara and Ordell, two Leonard characters who were portrayed by Robert De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson in the 1997 film.

EW says filming “is scheduled to begin in May, though no release date has been announced.”

What do you think? Good casting? Do you like the idea of the film? Let us know.

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Anupam Khers father passes away

Veteran actor Anupam Kher’s father passed away earlier today. The actor tweeted, “As I landed in Goa my brother Raju called from Mumbai that the “Best Dad in the World” (our father) is No More. Traveling back.”

News Trends offers heartfelt condolence to Anupam Kher and his family.

Woman among 4 killed in Karachi violence

 

According to police, a 35-year-old woman was killed when some unidentified persons opened fire on a car in Korangi Industrial area. The family was returning home after attending a marriage ceremony in Landhi area. Meanwhile, police said it was result of resistance against robbery attempt.

 

Police have also recovered a tortured dead body of an unidentified man from Lines area.

 

In Nagan Chorangi, some unidentified persons shot dead two people while a man was injured in a firing incident in Qayumabad area.

Three families massacred in Syria’s Homs: activists

BEIRUT: Three entire families, including women and children, were massacred overnight in the flashpoint city of Homs by the Syrian government’s security forces and thugs, activists said on Wednesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the 20 dead were from the Ghantawi, Terkawi and Zamel families, who were all gunned down in their homes.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based group, said one family numbered five, including a 15-year-old girl and two other children aged five and seven. Another family had seven members and the third eight.

Abdel Rahman said the three families were shot dead after the regime forces and government-backed militiamen known as Shabiha stormed their homes overnight in the Homs neighbourhoods of Karm el-Zeytoun and Naziheen.

Hadi Abdullah, an activist in Baba Amr reached by satellite phone from Beirut, said the 20 victims had their throats slit.

The reports could not be independently verified as the government has prevented most foreign journalists from entering Syria to cover an unprecedented revolt against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

The crackdown on the uprising has been concentrated in recent days on Homs, which has become a main centre of resistance. AGENCIES

Canada says has access to China’s most wanted man

BEIJING: Canadian diplomats have had regular access to China’s most wanted man, who was deported from Canada to China last year after a decades-long legal battle to face smuggling charges, an official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Beijing had sought the deportation of Lai Changxing for years, accusing him of running a multi-billion dollar smuggling ring in the southeastern city of Xiamen in the 1990s in one of China’s biggest political scandals in recent times.

The Canadian official dismissed suggestions that China had barred visits to Lai, about whom little has been heard since he arrived back in China in July after he lost a legal battle lasting almost two decades.

“Diplomats have had regular consular access to Lai,” the government official said, declining to comment any further.

Chinese state media said last December that Lai would be handed over to prosecutors.

The official spoke to Reuters after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he had raised the question of human rights in a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Wednesday.

Lai may face life imprisonment, state media has reported. But some legal experts and human rights activists have said it is unlikely Lai will receive a fair trial in China.

Lai fled to Canada with his family in 1999 and claimed refugee status, saying the allegations against him were politically motivated.

Lai’s alleged crimes occurred in the special economic zone of Xiamen in Fujian province in the mid-1990s when Jia Qinglin, now the ruling Communist Party’s fourth most senior leader, was the province’s Party boss.

Beijing has accused Lai’s business empire, the Yuanhua Group, of bribing officials to allow a massive smuggling ring in a scandal that implicated more than 200 senior figures, including Jia’s wife, Lin Youfang. She denied any wrongdoing.

Harper, in China for talks to boost trade, denies toning down his once strong line on human rights as bilateral economic ties boom.

“We look forward to continuing to strengthen our strategic partnership with China while of course also maintaining a frank and respectful dialogue on issues of human rights and the rule of law,” he told a news conference.

Harper said he had raised some consular cases with Wen but gave no details.

China and Canada have argued too about the case of Uighur-Canadian Huseyin Celil, jailed in 2007 for terrorism.

Celil, also known as Husein Dzhelil, fled China in the mid-1990s and sought asylum through the U.N. refugee office in Turkey, according to human rights group Amnesty International.

Canada accepted him as a refugee and he obtained citizenship there in November 2005, according to Amnesty. But China considers Celil a Chinese citizen.

Harper did press Wen about the need for diplomats to visit Celil.

“The prime minister restated the government’s desire to have consular access to Mr Celil,” the official said. AGENCIES

Karachi unrest stretches wings killing 8, injuring 5

TrendPK.com

KARACHI: At least two activists of a political party were killed and another five sustained injuries amid a bomb attack that ripped through an office of political party in Lyari locality, meanwhile, the wave of unrest stood spreading its wings over metropolis even on Tuesday. Six other Karachiites succumbed to gun attacks in different parts of bleeding metropolis, reports TrendPK. 

As usual unknown/unidentified or better be termed as ghosts assailants threw hand grenades at the office of a political party located in Nawalain area which lie under the jurisdiction of Klakot police station and fled away like always. Up to two ill-fated, identified as Dad Rehman and Haji Somar, were killed and five injured including two women.

Injured were shifted to Civil Hospital followed by that the area residents took to street for a futile demo against the act of well-established barbarianism.  Police arrived on the crime scene and surrounded it amid stringent security and then called in bomb disposal squad to examine the place where the bombs had hit.

Deceased Haji Somar was the sole bread and butter winner of his family.

Moreover, six Karachiites were gunned down amid incidents of unprovoked firing in separate areas. Nauman was killed in New Karachi. Gul Zaman was the second target of the day who was shot to kill in Jamshed Quarters. Afsar Khan was next to go in Pirabad of Orangi Twon. Bullets did not spare people in Sarjani Town either as Asghar was shot dead there. Unknown youth was butchered in Site Area while a security guard fell prey to indiscriminate firing in New Town. TrendPK

Pakistan hunts for survivors as factory toll hits 19

LAHORE: Pakistani rescuers on Tuesday pulled more survivors and bodies from the rubble of a factory that collapsed in the city of Lahore, as the death toll rose to 19 after the disaster.

The three-storey building used to manufacture veterinary medicines came crashing down after a probable boiler and a gas cylinder explosion at the premises in the congested Multan Road area on Monday, police said.

There was jubilation more than 30 hours after the accident when an elderly woman aged about 70 was pulled out alive from the rubble. Rescue workers said they were also clearing a route to recover two boys also spotted alive.

Emergency teams spent night and day digging through the debris with their bare hands, increasingly desperate as cries for help started to recede from mostly women and children trapped beneath concrete slabs.

Workers and volunteers used everything they could — hammers, axes, chisels and shovels — to shift the rubble and pull out the injured, coated in dust.

“We hope to clear most of the rubble by tonight,” local rescue chief Rizwan Naseer told reporters, saying that workers were digging tunnels under the rubble to pull out more injured people and dead bodies.

“It is a very slow and difficult operation,” Naseer added, saying it took almost five hours to pull out two women alive overnight.

Police official Shoaib Khurram told AFP that 19 people had been killed. Among the dead were at least 11 women, three young girls and three boys.

The toll is thought likely to rise further with dozens still believed to be trapped under the concrete mass.

Police said the factory was illegal. Local residents said it had been shut down twice since 2008, but that the owners reopened the premises each time.

“The owners violated the court orders and broke the seals,” said top local administration official Ahad Cheema.

Most of those trapped under the rubble were believed to be women and children hired to package the medicines at Orient Labs (Private) Limited.

The factory spotlighted poor safety procedures among Pakistani manufacturers and the use of child labour.

The state-run Jinnah Hospital said it had received 31 injured people, seven of them still in the surgical ward which was smelly and crowded.

Welder Mohammad Amin, who suffered minor facial injuries, said he had just arrived at the factory on Monday morning then the explosion happened.

“The whole building shook with a huge noise and everything tumbled down as if a massive earthquake has struck,” he told AFP.

“The roof fell in. There was an iron table nearby and I survived with its support,” the 40 year old said. “I remained there and kept shouting for help, and eventually the rescue workers pulled me out three hours later.”

Saba Shafiq, sister of 12-year-old Mohammad Anis whose right arm was in a plaster cast, said poverty forced the family to send him out to work.

“We are poor people. My father is old and and sick. Our economic condition is bad, we found this factory in our neighbourhood,” she said.

“They paid him around 7,000 rupees ($77) which is not bad for a poor family like ours. It offered great help to our family,” she said.

Eight million people live in Lahore, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) southeast of the capital Islamabad. It is considered Pakistan’s cultural capital and perhaps the most liberal city in the conservative Muslim country. AGENCIES

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