Memo scandal: PCNS meeting underway in Islamabad

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ISLAMABAD: Meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security is currently underway in Islamabad to probe into the memogate scandal which has shaken the already fragile government, TrendPK reports Tuesday.

Pakistan People Party (PPP) central leader and head of the committee, Mian Raza Rabbani is presiding over today’s meeting, which according to sources reviewing statement of DG ISI Ahmed Shuja Pasha submitted to the body regarding the secret memo scam.

Sources said in his statement the ISI chief has adopted the same viewpoint it earlier submitted to the court along with army chief General Ashfaque Pervez Kayani’s affidavit.

They said the investigation body had not so far received statements from former ambassador to Pakistan Hussain Haqqani and Mansoor Ijaz, the American-Pakistani businessmen which is central character of the scandal.

Gas price hike challenged in SHC

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KARACHI: The recently hiked prices of the gas have been challenged in Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday.

The petition has pleaded the court to make as respondents the federal government, Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the federal petroleum minister, MD Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

The petitioner said the raise in gas prices is an additional burden on the people and it will unleash a new wave price hike; hence, the hike should be withdrawn. TrendPK

Protests in Rawalpindi, Islamabad as CNG strike continues

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Rawalpindi: The CNG dealers continued their strike in Punjab, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, triggering protests in various cities, TrendPK reports.

Chairman CNG Owners Association accused government of unfair distribution of the fuel while Secretary Petroleum Ministry claims petroleum prices were raised after consultation with CNG dealers.

The dealers rejected raise in gas prices, saying it would put an extra burden on the masses who were already groaning under inflation.

CNG dealers in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad went on an indefinite strike on Sunday at the end of the three-day weekly closure, shutting down filling stations in Punjab and Potohar region.

The strike was observed against latest increase in prices and ban on provision of CNG to public transport vehicles with kits installed on the rooftops or beneath the seats.

The closure multiplied miseries of commuters as they were faced the worst situation, prompting protest demonstrations in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and other cities.

Hundreds of protestors, including transporters and traders, gathered at Adiyala road of Rawalpindi and staged protest demonstration, shutting down markets and business activities.

In Islamabad, the trader community suspended business activities in the federal capital where hundreds of people took to roads in protest against the CNG closure. They urged the government to withdraw the recent increase in prices for both CNG and domestic consumers.

Long queues of vehicles were seen outside filling stations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with local residents criticizing both the government and filling station owners for closing supply for five days running.

The government has directed CNG station owners in Punjab to shut down filling stations for six hours a day.

Sources said the decision was taken by Sui Northern Gas Company. In the first phase, they said, it would be implemented in Lahore and Sheikhupura where the fuel supply to gas stations would be suspended for three hours in morning and evening, 6 pm to 9 pm. — TrendPK

Islamabad: terror plot foiled – 5 arrested

ISLAMABAD: Police, in the federal capital Islamabad, have claimed foiling a terrorism scheme after having arrested a terrorist and his five associates from a compound, TrendPK reported Saturday.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber had been taken under arrest before his bid to explode himself in a mosque in Swat Valley could be put into practice.

According to details, a suspected man was rounded up from a restaurant in Islamabad. During investigations, he revealed about the whereabouts of his associates who had been holed up in a compound.

Subsequently, police raided the compartment, arresting his five aides.

They (terrorists) disclosed that Sardar Ali Khatak, working as a clerk in Finance Department, is on leave for two months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to recruit a suicide bomber to target any big religious rally in Islamabad during the holy month of Ramadan.

Also, police recovered a suicide vest, a hand grenade, a pistol and high value foreign currency from their compound.

In another incident in Swat Valley, local people foiled an attempt of suicide attack on a mosque in tehsil Kabal and killed the bomber.

A security man sustained injuries during the gunbattle. TrendPK

Islamabad: Bangle stalls on the rise ahead of Eid

A large number of females are thronging Eid stalls to buy bangles, which have become an essential part of Eid shopping for females. In Islamabad, bangle stalls are seen mostly in Super Market, Jinnah Super Market, Golden Market, Sitara Market and Gulshan Market.

Shopkeepers at Jinnah Super and Super Market are displaying rich variety of bangles such as Rashmi bangles, metallic bangles, gems-studded bangles, pearled bangles and glittering bangles. In the wake of soaring gold prices, the trend of artificial jewellery is also increasing.

PIA flight had narrow escape

PIA Multan-Islamabad flight narrowly escaped when it lost its balance after it took off from Multan airport for Islamabad.

According to a report PIA flight PK-386 lost its balance after it took off from Multan airport due to bad weather. However pilot landed the plane in Islamabad successfully.

The passengers told plane could not maintain its balance 30 minutes after it took off from Multan airport and several passengers were injured.

PIA spokesman told the plane lost its balance due to bad weather and the pilot had landed it safely. All the passengers are safe, he stated.

Rainwater enters Parliament House in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Rainwater has entered Parliament House as heavy monsoon showers constantly pour in Islamabad today, TrendPK reported on Monday.

Heavy rain has converted most roads in the capital city into canals where routine life has been disturbed badly by the rapidly flowing rainwater.

According to the Meteorological Department, till now, more than 85 millimeters of rain has been recorded in Islamabad.

All meetings at Parliament House have been cancelled today as rainwater has entered many committee rooms and is constantly filling other areas as well.

Seeing no break in the ongoing heavy rain showers in the twin cities, authorities have put all rescue agencies on high alert to control all types of emergency situations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. TrendPK

NEPRA asked to take action against KESC

Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar has directed the NEPRA to take action against KESC for creating a crisis situation in Karachi. Talking to media in Islamabad, Qamar said that the ministry has other options, along with NEPRA Act, to take action against KESC.

He said that the country will face 2,500 MW shortfall in spite of full supply of oil and immediate halt in loadshedding was not possible but unscheduled loadshedding would be curtailed.

India says Pakistan shown as terror ‘sanctuary’

NEW DELHI: The killing of Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden near Islamabad is further evidence that terrorists find “sanctuary” in Pakistan, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday.

We take note with grave concern that part of the statement in which (US) President Obama said that the firefight in which Osama bin Laden was killed took place in Abbottabad ‘deep inside Pakistan’,” Chidambaram said in a statement.

“This fact underlines our concern that terrorists belonging to different organisations find sanctuary in Pakistan,” he said. AGENCIES

Kazmis judicial remand extended for 14 days

Former religious affair minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi was brought to the senior civil judge of Islamabad Aslam Gondal’s court in Haj corruption case on Wednesday.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Khalid Butt told the court that the FIA found 14 plots that were registered against the name of Kazmi’s family members. He said that the total value of plots was estimated around Rs 4 million and the FIA would submit evidence to the court in this regard.

Extending the judicial remand of the former minister, the court sent him to jail for 14 days.

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